Terms of Reference for Rushy Lagoon inquiry announced

The Tasmanian Government has today released the terms of reference for its proposed Parliamentary Select Committee inquiry into Rushy Lagoon.

The Federal Labor Government used almost $70 million of taxpayer dollars to bank roll the sale of Rushy Lagoon to the UK-based Tasmania Natural Asset Trust, which plan to plant 9000 hectares of pine trees on the property.

It was also revealed the Federal Labor Government provided $8.8 million to the Trust to purchase the trees before the sale of the land was approved.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the proposed Select Committee will inquire into the influence of the Commonwealth on the sale of productive agriculture land in Tasmania for carbon sequestration. 

"Rushy Lagoon has long been recognised as one of Tasmania's premier agricultural enterprises, supporting jobs, regional economic activity and food production," Premier Rockliff said.

"Our Government is a strong supporter of the forestry industry, however, Tasmanians want and deserve answers over the Federal Government’s involvement in the sale and what it means for productive agricultural land across our State.

“It's high time Tasmanian Labor stood up for Tasmanians instead of caving to Canberra over the sale of Rushy Lagoon.”

The proposed terms of reference:

• The influence of Commonwealth funding, financing and policy mechanisms, including the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme, the Support Plantation Establishment Program and other Commonwealth initiatives, on the acquisition, ownership and use of strategically significant agricultural land in Tasmania, including the acquisition of Rushy Lagoon and associated properties;
• The extent to which Commonwealth programs and incentives have facilitated the conversion of productive agricultural land in Tasmania to carbon sequestration, plantation forestry or biodiversity-related land uses, and the impacts of those changes on agricultural production, food and fibre industries, employment, regional communities and opportunities for agricultural ownership;
• The consideration given by the Foreign Investment Review Board and other Commonwealth decision-makers to Tasmania's agricultural, economic and regional interests in relation to the acquisition of Rushy Lagoon and associated properties;
• The adequacy of Commonwealth assessment, consultation, approval and oversight processes relating to decisions affecting strategically significant agricultural land in Tasmania; and
• Legislative, regulatory, administrative or policy reforms to improve transparency, accountability and consideration of Tasmania's interests in Commonwealth decisions affecting strategically significant agricultural land.

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Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Gavin Pearce, said our farmers and agriculture communities need to have confidence that decisions affecting productive farmland are transparent and take local impacts into account.

"We need answers to questions about the impact on food production, regional jobs, agriculture investment and opportunities for future agricultural ownership,” Minister Pearce said.

“This inquiry is about understanding actions taken by the Federal Labor Government and ensuring Tasmania’s interests are considered in these decisions.”

Labor’s Janie Finlay has talked tough on Facebook about Rushy, saying: “I think it is a terrible decision.”

“Will Ms Finlay and Labor draw a line in the sand or are they too busy running cover for Canberra," Minister Pearce said.