The Hodgman Liberal Government continues to work closely with Tasmanian dairy farmers and the industry in general to help withstand the challenges currently facing the sector.
Dairy farming is one of Tasmania’s great competitive strengths with the latest ABS figures valuing the industry at $442 million.
Even more importantly it supports 1400 jobs, predominantly in rural areas, and an estimated 430 farms.
At this challenging time for dairy farmers and their families, and on the back of the extreme dry season, the Tasmanian Government will provide an additional $135,000 over three years to the Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS) to allow it to provide additional services to farmers.
This will take the total Tasmanian Government funding to the RFCS from $40,000 to $85,000 per year over the next three years.
The Tasmanian Government will also provide Rural Alive and Well with funding of $569,000 in 2016-17.
This continues the Government’s commitment to extend mental health support in rural communities as part of our long term plan for mental health in Tasmania.
The Department of State Growth’s Skills Response Unit has also been dispatched to provide advice to those in need including affected employees and farm workers.
Dairy is a pillar of Tasmanian agriculture and I’m confident that it will continue to be the case into the future.
I commend the industry for its proactive response in leading the development of a number of measures and activities support dairy farmers.
The Government will naturally consider any specific requests arising from the meeting of the industry-led Dairy Taskforce on Tuesday, which includes Department representatives.
I have also made my concerns very clear to Fonterra and Murray Goulburn, and have written to the ACCC and ASIC about this issue.
We greatly value our dairy farmers, and all they contribute to Tasmania, and we will continue to work with them to ensure they have a secure future.
Further information on all the support available to dairy farmers is also available on the DPIPWE website: http://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/agriculture
More Media Releases from Jeremy Rockliff
More Media Releases from the Minister for Primary Industries and Water