Guy Barnett,Minister for Primary Industries and Water
The Tasmanian Liberal Government is the strongest supporter of our productive industries like agriculture, fishing, forestry, energy and mining and the Tasmanian businesses, families and communities who are securing Tasmania's future.
This Government has adopted a bold agenda and clear plan to secure more opportunities for Tasmanians and to build a more diverse and resilient economy.
We have world leading plans for renewable energy and Tasmania is already 100 per cent self-sufficient in renewable energy, confirming our status as a world leader in renewable energy generation. In 2021 we legislated to double our renewable generation to 200 per cent by 2040 which is unmatched globally.
As part of our plan to become an international Green-hydrogen producer this Government has invested $2.6 million to support three studies partnering with Origin Energy, ABEL Energy and Grange Resources to investigate large-scale renewable hydrogen projects in Tasmania.
But our primary focus remains delivering for all Tasmanians and easing cost-of-living pressures.
This year the Tasmanian Economic Regulator approved a 7.11 per cent decrease in the residential electricity price. This means Tasmanians have some of the lowest electricity prices in the nation, saving up to $145 for the average household and $183 for small businesses per year.
Agriculture is the life blood of our economy and the latest Agri-Food Scorecard shows that agricultural production has exceeded $2 billion for the first time.
We have invested almost $50 million to accelerate the industry which includes a $3 million Agricultural Development Fund, delivered an MOU with the University of Tasmania to develop a Tasmanian Agricultural Precinct, provided $400,000 to support our farmers and regional communities with rural financial counselling and invested $2 million to expand the Strategic Industry Partnership Program.
As all farmers know, water is liquid gold, which is why in 2021 we have injected $30 million to support water resources and irrigation, including $23.7 million to supersize irrigations schemes across the state and $1.5 million to implement initiatives in the Rural Water Use Strategy.
We have also invested an unprecedented $6.1 million to support the seafood industry sector during COVID-19 – in particular the wild fisheries and rock lobster fishers.
We are also investing $3 million to develop our Wild Fisheries Action Plan, including $2 million to support boat improvements, uptake of new technology and skills development.
Recreational fishing is a Tasmanian way of life and we have provided $3 million for new and upgraded facilities for sea and inland fishing, $350,000 for our Recreational Sea Fishing Strategy, $400,000 for TARFish and $100,000 to make fishing easier for youth, women and people with a disability.
We are also investing $11.7 million to support the forestry sector including driving more on-island processing and value adding, supporting the Tasmanian Timber Promotions Board, addressing skills shortages and training, establishing a Diversity Action Plan Project and delivering long-term resource security for sawmills across the state.
This Government knows that more trade means more jobs, which is why we will continue to support our Tasmanian exporters to take their products to the world.
In 2021 we established three new in-market Tasmanian Trade Advocates in San Francisco, Tokyo and Singapore and our exports broke through the $4 billion mark for the first time.
The Government has always backed our Tasmanian veterans' community and we are delivering more than $1.4 million to support veterans and ex-serving personnel.
2021 has been an extremely productive year for Tasmania and the Government is proud of the innovative Tasmanians who are securing Tasmania's future.
