Shadow Minister for Primary Industries & Water, Shadow Minister for Police & Emergency Services, Shadow Minister for Parks & Wildlife, Shadow Minister for Local Government

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11
Mar

Real change for farming - $30 million to boost farm water development

2010

A majority Hodgman Liberal Government will provide the real change needed to support and grow our vital farming sector.

Agriculture underpins the Tasmanian economy. It contributes 16 percent of Gross State Product, and represents one in five Tasmanian jobs. It is the foundation of our rural communities.

Labor has let our farming sector down. While David Bartlett talks about grand visions and “food-bowls”, our farmers are doing it tough and vital food processors like McCain are closing because Labor failed to act.

In 1998 Labor promised to “drought-proof” Tasmania. 12 years on and Labor is still failing to deliver the water projects it has promised.

A Hodgman Liberal Government will advance all the water projects currently on the table – and we will commence planning for the next stage of projects, including the Circular Head and Dial Blythe areas.

We will also provide the real change our farmers need by creating a $30 million low-interest loan scheme for farmers to boost farm water development.

We will invest $6.5 million to make the development, projection and protection of a true Tasmanian brand a priority – to help farmers become price makers, not price takers.
In addition, we will appoint three primary industries regional liaison officers to help farmers navigate their way through increasingly complex regulatory and legislative requirements.
The Liberals understand the importance of protecting the family farm and supporting our farming communities.

We will establish Tasmania’s first Rural Family Support Service, and a $1 million fund, to help protect the family farm and strengthen rural communities. A childcare centre at Campbell Town will be funded as part of this initiative.

And we will establish a high level, standing Rural Taskforce as a strategic industry body that will have a proactive role of preventing crisis in the sector – rather than simply reacting, as has happened under Labor.

In addition, a Hodgman Liberal Government will:-

•Develop a long-term, strategic plan for the agriculture sector;

•Provide up to $3 million to assist farmers with the cost of installing/replacing water meters;

•Invest $950,000 to rollout Global Navigation Satellite System infrastructure;

•Provide five annual one-year scholarships worth $5,000 to students to study in primary industries;

•$300,000 for the establishment of two truck and machinery wash-down facilities, helping prevent the spread of weeds across the state, and a dedicated serrated tussock eradication officer;

•$165,000 per year to the Tasmanian Landcare Association

•Undertake a review of the Primary Industry Activities Protection Act to ensure farmers are properly protected from nuisance complaints, drawing on legislative developments in other jurisdictions, including British Columbia;

•Stand up for our farmers in Canberra and fight the native grasslands listing;

•Develop a good neighbor charter to help make the government a better neighbor to our farmers after 12 years of appalling behavior by Labor

Only a majority Hodgman Liberal Government can provide the real change needed to support and grow our farming sector.