Loans

The Victorian Government has announced measures to support Victorian primary producers impacted by the January 2026 bushfires. These measures include Primary Producer Bushfire Recovery Concessional Loans of up to $250,000 to assist primary producers who have suffered significant damage to their assets as a direct result of the 2026 Victorian Bushfires. The program is jointly funded by the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

Applications are now open and will close on 21 October 2026 at 4:00pm.

• Concessional Loans of up to $250,000 are available to assist primary producers which have suffered significant damage to their assets as a direct result of the 2026 Victorian Bushfires.
• Concessional Loans of up to $100,000 are available to assist primary producers which have suffered a significant loss of income as a direct result of the 2026 Victorian Bushfires.

The maximum total loan available under this program is $250,000. The amount available is based on an assessment of the applicants’ financial position, including any amount recoverable under an insurance policy and cannot be more than the amount reasonably required.

How can the funding be used?

Concessional loans are provided to re-establish the normal operations of the business. The loans are intended to be used for the purposes of restoring and/or replacing damaged assets and/or for working capital expenses that cannot be met due to a loss of income.

• Asset replacement: Costs of restoring and/or replacing damaged primary producer assets in accordance with current codes and standards. This includes costs such as:
  • Repairing or replacing damaged plant and equipment
  • Repairing or replacing buildings
  • Supplying stock to replace lost stock and maintain liquidity of the business
  • Purchasing livestock to replace those that have been lost in the eligible disaster
  • Replanting, restoring, or re-establishing areas that were affected by the eligible disaster (associated with a primary production enterprise)
• Working capital: Essential expenses while the business returns to its normal level of trading. This includes expenses such as:
  • Paying bills
  • Paying salaries or wages
  • Paying rent and rates
  • Paying for goods or services, including for example fuel, essential to carry-on the business
  • Buying fodder or water for livestock or produce (associated with a primary production enterprise)
  • Transporting livestock or produce (associated with a primary production enterprise)

NOTE: Funding from concessional loans cannot be used to refinance existing loans.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a loan, applicants must meet certain criteria:

• Be a primary producer
• Devote part of their labour to the primary production enterprise
• Derive at least 50 per cent of their gross income from primary production in an average year
• Hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) and have held that ABN at the time of the eligible disaster
• Own a primary production enterprise in the defined disaster area for the eligible disaster
• Have been engaged in carrying on the primary production enterprise when affected by the eligible disaster
• Be primarily responsible for meeting the costs claimed in the application
• Be intending to re-establish or continue carrying on conducting the primary production enterprise within the same Local Government Area
• Have suffered significant damage to assets or a significant loss of income as a direct result of the eligible disaster
• Demonstrate that the primary production enterprise has reasonable prospects of long-term viability with the assistance provided and the capacity to repay the loan
• Use the funds for the approved purpose only
• Provide adequate loan security
• Demonstrate the primary production enterprise has not received another concessional loan for loss or damage that was related to the eligible disaster or where a concessional loan has been received it is replaced with a loan under this offering.

Local Government Areas included in the defined disaster area are:

• Alpine 
• Ararat
• Benalla
• Compaspe
• Colac Otway 
• Corangamite 
• East Gippsland
• Golden Plains
• Greater Bendigo 
• Horsham 
• Lake Mountain Alpine Resort (Unincorporated)
• Macedon Ranges
• Mansfield
• Mildura 
• Mitchell
• Moira
• Mount Alexander
• Murrindindi
• Pyrenees 
• Strathbogie
• Towong
• Wellington
• Wodonga
• Yarra Ranges

Loan Terms and Conditions

Loans have a concessional interest rate for up to 5 years (loans revert to a commercial rate of interest for any remaining loan term after the concessional period). For the year to 30 June 2026 the concessional interest rate is 2.14%. This rate is updated annually.

Application fees will not apply however statutory costs and other charges to establish loan securities will apply.

The term of the loan will be determined by Rural Finance and will be up to a maximum of five years for the concessional period.

Loans will be subject to an annual review and necessary financial information must be provided when requested each year.

How to Apply

Please read the program guidelines carefully. To apply for the Victorian Primary Producer Bushfire Recovery Concessional Loans, an expression of interest form (available via the link to the right of this page) will need to be completed and emailed to admin@ruralfinance.com.au.

Following assessment by Rural Finance of a submitted expression of interest form eligible applicants will be asked to complete a more detailed application form.

Applications will be assessed in order of receipt against the eligibility criteria and must be submitted by the closing date shown on the Rural Finance website. The program opened for expressions of interest on 21 January 2026 and all loan applications must be received before 21 October 2026 at 4:00 pm.

Further Information

For further information, please contact Rural Finance on 1800 260 425 or via email at admin@ruralfinance.com.au.