Rebecca Fing is the Founder and Managing Director of House Paddock Training and Consulting, based in Goondiwindi. A wife, mum, country girl and self-described "susie-homemaker-wanna-be-gardener," Bec has spent nearly two decades helping businesses and individuals better manage their people, projects, safety and operations through practical training, coaching and consulting.

Known for her no-frills, down-to-earth approach, Bec specialises in WHS and HR management, focusing on real-world solutions, engagement and sustainable processes over paperwork.

Farm safety, WHS, OH&S, contractor risk, fatigue management, farm inductions, and safety paperwork can feel overwhelming for family farms, but this conversation makes it practical. If you run a farm, employ staff, use contractors, have family helping, host visitors, or worry about what happens if something goes wrong, this episode is for you.

In this Hard Ground conversation, Beck from House Paddock Consulting explains why farm safety is not just a compliance issue. It is a people issue, a family issue, and a business survival issue. She breaks down the difference between safety culture and paperwork, why “doing the right thing” matters more than ticking a box, and why simple steps like inductions, emergency plans, training evidence, and honest conversations can put your farm in a much stronger position.

This episode is for farmers who feel frustrated by safety rules, scared of liability, or unsure where to start. You will hear practical examples around fatigue at harvest, contractors on farm, recreational use of farm vehicles, shooters, visitors, SOPs, high-risk machinery, and the grey areas that make WHS feel confusing.

You’ll learn how to start with a simple farm induction, why emergency preparedness matters, what to ask your team when you want honest safety feedback, and why your documents must reflect what actually happens on your farm. You’ll also hear how contractor responsibility works, why shared responsibility matters, and why high-risk jobs deserve the most attention.

Chapters

00:00 Intro

00:29 Welcome to Hard Ground

02:03 Meet Beck from House Paddock Consulting

05:04 Why farm safety matters

07:35 The human cost of farm incidents

10:11 Why farmers resist WHS and safety paperwork

14:14 Profit, pressure, and the cost of a life

18:51 Safety culture vs paperwork

21:38 Fatigue management during harvest

23:45 Why paperwork protects the business

26:47 Where farm safety resistance comes from

31:17 Farming freedom vs safety regulation

33:30 Why starting matters more than perfection

44:05 Risk, kids, quad bikes, and farm life

50:23 Employees living on farm and recreational risk

54:04 Shooters, visitors, and grey areas

55:44 Contractors and shared responsibility

56:49 Simple contractor inductions and annual emails

1:04:49 Where to start with WHS

1:06:35 The one question to ask your team

1:12:58 When someone says they feel unsafe

1:15:03 SOPs, insurance, and high-risk machinery

1:15:38 Contractor safety standards

1:16:19 Beck’s farm safety programs

#FarmSafety

#WHS

#FamilyFarms

#AgricultureAustralia

#FarmBusiness

The proposed Australian budget tax changes have left many farmers, landholders, and rural families asking the same question: what does this mean for our farm, our trust, our capital gains tax, and our succession plan?

In this discussion, accountant George Morrice from Prime Partners Accounting breaks down the biggest proposed changes affecting Australian farmers, including CGT changes, family trusts, negative gearing, farm succession, company structures, SMSFs, fuel tax credits, biosecurity cuts, and off-farm investments. If you own farmland, operate through a trust, lease agricultural land, hold investment property, or are planning to transfer the farm to the next generation, this conversation will help you understand the risks, questions, and planning points you need to consider.This is especially important for rural families trying to protect intergenerational wealth, manage tax exposure, understand proposed trust rules, and avoid rushed financial decisions before legislation is finalised. The key message: these changes are not yet law, but they could have major consequences if passed.You’ll learn how proposed capital gains tax changes could affect farms, investment properties, and pre-CGT assets. George explains why trusts may face new tax pressure, how negative gearing may change for residential property, and why some farmers may need to reconsider company structures, SMSFs, succession planning, and off-farm income strategies. The discussion also covers fuel excise changes, farm management deposits, leasing income, biodiversity payments, and why farmers should avoid knee-jerk restructuring until the rules are clearer.Chapters00:00 Intro and welcome02:40 Meet George Morris from Prime Partners Accounting03:20 Why the budget has farmers worried04:20 Proposed changes are not law yet04:54 Leasing farmland, trusts, and CGT concerns06:00 Small business CGT concessions explained08:30 How capital gains tax could change after budget night09:40 Why the budget may create tax loopholes10:00 Pre-CGT farm assets entering the tax system11:10 Selling investment property to improve the farm13:17 Negative gearing and off-farm assets15:08 Fuel, fertiliser, and budget wins for farmers16:15 Loss carry-back rules for company structures17:30 Fuel excise and fuel tax credit changes20:30 Biosecurity cuts and rural impact23:22 What the budget means for sole traders and partnerships24:00 Trust distributions and the proposed 30% tax issue25:31 Transferring property between generations26:30 Testamentary trusts explained28:23 Companies, succession, and farm ownership structures30:46 SMSFs and farming land structures33:07 Possible inheritance tax concerns35:24 Election timing and whether changes can be reversed37:51 Commercial property vs residential property38:03 New builds and negative gearing40:23 Primary production income and trust rules42:45 Moving land into a trust for succession44:00 CGT rules before 199946:23 Passing farms to grandchildren48:59 Gifting, super funds, and asset transfers51:25 Passive income, leasing, and trust tax questions54:00 Should farmers move from trusts to companies?56:00 Lobbying and rural advocacy57:11 Existing negatively geared properties59:00 Biodiversity payments and tax treatment01:01:28 Intergenerational transfers and CGT concessions01:03:26 Closing comments and follow-up#AustralianFarmers#CapitalGainsTax#FarmSuccession#FamilyTrusts#RuralBusiness

When farming gets tough - financially, personally or strategically - the Rural Financial Counselling Service Northern Region is there to help producers work through what comes next. From drought and debt to succession planning and big business decisions, we walk alongside farmers and fishers with practical, free and impartial support. Trusted and experienced in holding the conversations to help navigate change with more clarity and confidence.Most farm families face their toughest challenges in silence—until now.

Emma Wallace, a seasoned financial counsellor and community advocate, uncovers the essential messaging farming populations need to hear: timely, honest conversations about money and succession are the key to long-term sustainability.In this eye-opening episode, Emma shares how communication breakdowns in farming families lead to crises—whether it’s intergenerational conflicts, financial distress, or isolation—and why starting the conversation early can transform tension into teamwork. She reveals the red flags of financial abuse and family discord, including the danger of overlooked mental health triggers and the impact of taboo topics like debt and asset transfer. Emma emphasizes that, amidst the unpredictability of industry and nature, proactive dialogue and transparency are your best tools for resilience.

You’ll discover: how to recognize the subtle signs of crisis before they escalate, why early planning can prevent costly conflicts, and practical tips for fostering honest family conversations—even in the most difficult moments.

Emma also breaks down the invaluable free services available to farmers—like the Rural Financial Counselling Service—and explains how institutions are working to destigmatize tough topics such as succession, mental health, elder abuse, and financial literacy.Why does all this matter? Because farm success isn’t just about land or machinery—it’s about people. Ignoring the warning signs and delaying conversations can threaten family stability, mental health, and the future of your farm.

Conversely, embracing open communication and seeking support early sets the stage for growth, legacy, and sustainability. It’s a hard truth but an empowering one: the best time to start is now.Perfect for farmers, family members, and industry advocates eager to break down barriers and build stronger, more resilient farm families. If you're ready to turn conversations that feel uncomfortable into opportunities for connection and success, this episode is your blueprint for lasting change.Emma Wallace is the communications officer at the Rural Financial Counselling Service, Northern Region, and a former small business financial counsellor. With deep roots in Australian agriculture and firsthand experience navigating floods and land management, she’s dedicated to supporting rural communities with compassionate, independent guidance.Start now—because the future of farming depends on it.