This is a subscriber-only article
The Department refused an Areas of Natural Constraint payment to a farmer on the basis that "a certificate of postage is no longer acceptable as proof of postage". The farmer appealed the decision on the basis that he and another family member had sent their sheep and goat census form at the same time and had obtained stamped certificates of postage for both envelopes.
The case is highlighted in the annual report of the Agriculture Appeals Office for 2017 released this week.
The appeal officer confirmed that the farmer had sheep on his farm at the date of the census, and that the other family member's census form was received on time, but the appealing farmer's form did not reach the Department in time.
The appeal officer also found that an information letter sent with the sheep census form in 2015 clearly said: “In the event of a census form being posted to and not received by the Department, please note the only acceptable proof of postage in respect of the 2015 sheep goat census is: registered post receipt or express post receipt.” The letter stated in bold capitalised writing that a certificate of posting is no longer acceptable as proof of postage.
On that basis, the appeal was disallowed.
SHARING OPTIONS: