The Liberal Government is a strong supporter of Tasmania's vitally important $90 million Tasmanian poppy industry.
Today's announcement from TPI is a commercial decision by the company and while it is disappointing and we would have preferred TPI to stay, we are not prepared to risk compromising the broader industry by allowing the unfettered import of poppy straw, which could not only pose a risk to bio-security but also to our international reputation for safety and security.
TPI contracted less than 10 per cent of Tasmania's total poppy crop and we are confident the industry has a bright future with the two remaining major processors, GlaxoSmithKline and Tasmanian Alkaloids.
The Government does not expect today's announcement to impact significantly on Tasmanian poppy growers. Tasmania is considered one of the world's most efficient and secure producers of poppies with the highest yield per hectare of any opiate-producing country.
As the world's largest producer of licit narcotic raw material, supplying around half of the world's demand, Tasmania is a significant supplier to the international pharmaceutical market.
There is also potential to expand the industry in future with just over half of the annual sustainable area of suitable land in Tasmania currently utilised for poppy growing, along with the support of the expansion in irrigation.
The Liberal Government is committed to the poppy industry and we remain confident farmers and processors will continue to have a bright future here in Tasmania.
The Government's focus is providing support to affected workers through the Department of State Growth's Skills Response Team, which is dealing directly with TPI on this matter.
More Media Releases from Jeremy Rockliff
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