Disaster Relief & Drought Assistance Package

If you’re affected by the drought, we’re here to help.
View contact details

In response to the exceptional drought circumstances affecting many Australians, we will be extending our ongoing support to existing customers under a new Drought Assistance Package. We have committed $100 million to support our farmer and agribusiness customers.

Drought Assistance Package

We will be introducing the following for our Agribusiness customers:  

  • Creation of a $100 million fund to provide carry on finance loans of up to $1 million to existing eligible Westpac agribusiness customers at a heavily-discounted variable interest rate1
  • Giving drought-impacted customers the option to defer principal and interest repayments on existing business term loans and equipment finance for up to 12 months2
  • Offering an interest adjustment for our customers with Farm Management Deposit (FMD) to effectively offset FMD balances against their eligible business loans3
     

For more information, please contact your local Agribusiness team, or visit your local branch.

Disaster Relief

We recognise a range of natural disasters can place financial burdens on business.

As part of our commitment to you, our dedicated team of Agribusiness regional managers will work closely with you to help provide financial solutions during these times. Part of that commitment includes a disaster relief package that may provide you with practical, financial solutions such as:

  • Restructuring existing loans free of the usual establishment fees
  • Offering additional finance to help cover cash flow shortages
  • Freezing risk margins for primary producers who receive interest rate subsidies through government assistance schemes
  • Deferring upcoming credit card payments
  • Increasing emergency credit card limits
  • Waiving early termination fees for customers who wish to access their term deposits
  • Suspending home loan repayments for our home loan customers.

Community Resilience Grants

As part of the Westpac Group Natural Disaster Recovery Fund, we offer Community Resilience Grants that are available to not-for-profit organisations and community groups in drought-affected areas. Funds will be directed towards projects that help to build community resilience. Information on how to apply is available on the Westpac National Disaster Recovery Fund website from September 2018.

Need more help?

Find disaster relief resources for support in your state.

Contact the Agribusiness team

Speak to an Agribusiness specialist banker in your state.

View contact details
Things you should know
  1. Business Loan terms of up to 3 years at a customer group level.
  2. During the 12 month deferment of interest repayments, interest will continue to be applied to the loan balance.
  3. The interest adjustment will be applied to those customers who accept the offer and will be calculated for the current financial year based on the relative balances of the farm management deposit and the eligible business loans.