The Hodgman Liberal Government is the strongest supporter of Tasmania’s $442 million dairy industry which supports 430 farms and 1400 jobs throughout regional Tasmania.
It is vital that education and primary industries work together so that students develop the skills needed to gain employment in our primary industries. This is why this year’s State Budget includes $300,000 over two years to develop a clear primary industries career pathway for students.
As a result of bringing the Budget back into balance we can afford to invest more into supporting key industries such as agriculture to grow and create jobs.
Today I am delighted to officially open Hagley Farm Primary School’s Visitor Centre Dairy Demonstration Shed, along with the Lyons MHA Guy Barnett.
The Dairy Demonstration Shed is the first of three key stages to improve the agricultural educational opportunities at the Visitor Centre, and will ensure that milk production and dairy education remain key programs that are offered at the centre (in partnership with Dairy Tasmania) and accessible to all visitors.
The Visitor Centre at the school has strong connections with the Tasmanian Agricultural Education Framework, and this state-wide facility averages 5000 visitors each year.
The Hagley Visitor Centre has a strong emphasis on learning supported by high quality curriculum resources, and it is important that we continue to improve agricultural education awareness opportunities.
The Dairy Demonstration Shed is a great addition to the School’s Visitor Centre, and I am looking forward to the next two stages of this project which will see the establishment of a Shearing Demonstration Shed and a Cropping Classroom and Farming Technologies Hub.
Access to agricultural education and school farms in particular provide important hands-on learning opportunities for students and critical pathways to employment.
Dairy is a pillar of Tasmanian agriculture and a vital part of the Hodgman Liberal Government’s vision to increase the value of agriculture to $10 billion by 2050.