Some changes to the EMDG Rules were revealed on 15 February 2024 at Senate Estimates by Austrade ‘s Ms. Philippa King & Ms. Samantha Palmer FIPAA under questioning by NAT Senator Ross Cadell

Some key points for Round 4 EMDG Grants applicants from Senate estimates last night

* EMDG will change to “a scheme whereby applications will close when funding is fully allocated to eligible applicants on a first-in-first-served basis”.– no details given. Sounds a lot like the hunger games. What do you think?

* EMDG Tier 3 applications will be for target markets of Austrade/Govt only – no specific countries mentioned. Those countries chosen will be consistent with the governments trade diversification policy. Think Asia & countries that we have FTA with.

* EDMG will now have a minimum turnover requirement – amount not mentioned. Supposedly this is being done to combat underspend and will necessarily impact on Startups. A better approach may have been to base eligibility on applicants’ capacity to spend rather than a minimum income. Austrade always knows best

* EMDG Teir 1 applicants should expect more red tape and hoops to jump through with changes comings to the Export Readiness criteria.