The Tasmanian Liberal Government understands that our primary industries, including agriculture, fisheries, mining, forestry and energy are the backbone of the State’s economy.
Tasmanians should be proud that we have built Tasmania on the back of these industries while still achieving the lowest net emissions in the country and being powered by 100 per cent renewable energy.
To turbo-charge our primary industries the Tasmanian Budget 2021-22 invests almost $50 million to accelerate agriculture, including $30.2 million to support water resources and irrigation.
We are supersizing tranche three of Pipeline to Prosperity irrigation with $23.7 million for the Don, Tamar, Sassafras, Northern Midlands and Fingal, and we are funding $5 million for Tasmania Irrigation to develop the business case for the South East extension.
Importantly we also have $1.5 million for the Rural Water Use Strategy and there is $10.2 million in our new Ag-Protection package to future proof industries and manage risk.
This week Tasmania’s dairy industry announced a year of record production - 961 million litres of milk, which is up 1.2 per cent from the previous year. This excellent result reflects the ongoing hard work and investment of farmers encouraged by our policy settings that support sustainable growth.
In fisheries we are investing $3 million in our Wild Fisheries Action Plan including funding to support processing, product development, new market development, and we are also supporting skills development and fleet innovation.
In forestry we are creating a special $10 million fund to support more on-island processing along with $1.15 million to assist the Tasmanian Timber Promotions Board to sell the Tasmanian timber products across the world.
Additionally, we have $450,000 to support the establishment of a Diversity Action Plan to increase gender and cultural diversity in forestry and mining.
The Tasmanian Government is also taking mining to the next level with investment of more than $3.5 million, including $1.5 million for the popular Exploration Drilling Grant Initiative and $2 million for our new Geoscience initiative.
Mining is our highest value export and for all those who oppose our well regulated industry, they have to remember that if they shut down mines, they are cutting nurses and police and teachers that are funded with the royalties.
The Budget includes $6 million to back our export businesses including delivery of the final three years of Tasmania’s first Trade Strategy.
While Tasmania is positioned as the renewable energy powerhouse of Australia, we will never forget to put Tasmanians first.
There is support of up to $12 million for those most in need through the $125 energy supplement and we adjusted the eligibility to make sure no one misses out. This is in addition to our $43 million concession arrangements.
The Tasmanian Liberal Government protects our state, our economy and the thousands of jobs that form the backbone of our regional communities through a balanced approach that protects our environment, community and industry.
More Media Releases from Guy Barnett
More Media Releases from the Minister for Primary Industries and Water