SIRP: Sugar Industry Reform Program

Document Downloads

The Sugar Industry Reform Program (SIRP) is an initiative of the Commonwealth Government to assist those in the sugar industry in the aftermath of the American Free Trade Agreement which excluded sugar growers. This five year assistance program was announced in the Federal Budget in 2003.

While the large majority of funding was administered by the Department of Farming and Fisheries aimed at restructurning the sugar industry, the SIRP included a small allocation of funds ($5 million over 5 years) to the Department of Family and Community Services to fund family support agencies and financial counselling services to assist those affected by the downturn in the sugar industry.

AFCCRA, as the national peak body for financial counsellors agreed to assist with the implementation of the financial counselling component of the SIRP.