Tasmanian Government
Jeremy Rockliff, Premier
Gavin Pearce, Minister for Primary Industries and Water
The Tasmanian Government will move to establish a Select Committee to interrogate the sale of Rushy Lagoon in Parliament this week.
The proposed Select Committee will inquire into matters including the influence of Commonwealth funding on the sale, the extent to which Commonwealth funding facilitated the conversion of productive agricultural land in Tasmania to carbon sequestration, and the transparency around the process.
Premier Rockliff said the Federal Government's role in funding and approving the sale of Rushy Lagoon needs further scrutiny.
"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, there is genuine community concern about the implications of this sale, how it happened and what it means for productive agricultural land across our State.
"Tasmanians want confidence that strategic farming assets will remain available to support food production, regional communities and future generations of farmers.
"The Parliament has an important role to play in this - it is incredibly serious for the future of Tasmania."
Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Gavin Pearce, said we have been working with and listening to TasFarmers and the broader agricultural community.
"TasFarmers, producers and regional communities have been very upfront about their serious concerns about the future of this highly productive agricultural land," Minister Pearce said.
"We need answers to questions about the impact on food production, agricultural employment, regional investment and opportunities for future agricultural ownership.
"There are serious questions that need serious answers, and it should be a line in the sand for Labor - will they keep running protection for their overlords in Canberra?
"Tasmania's agricultural land is one of our most valuable strategic assets and it is important that Parliament examines whether we have the right settings in place to protect our long-term agricultural interests.
"This inquiry is about ensuring Tasmanians can have confidence that decisions impacting our most significant agricultural assets are being properly scrutinised and that the interests of regional communities are being considered."
/Public Release. This material from the originating organization/author(s) might be of the point-in-time nature, and edited for clarity, style and length. Mirage.News does not take institutional positions or sides, and all views, positions, and conclusions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s).View in full here.
