Guy Barnett,Minister for Primary Industries and Water
The Tasmanian Liberal Government welcomes the Commonwealth Government's announcement of grants to improve energy efficiency on dairy farms, which will reduce energy costs.
The Commonwealth Government is providing grants of up to $20,000 for dairy farming business to upgrade equipment to reduce energy consumption, invest in monitoring systems to better manage energy use, and conduct energy audits to investigate other opportunities for energy efficient activities.
This grants sits alongside our On-Farm Energy Audit and Capital Grant Program where we have provided over $742,000 to assist farmers to lower their energy costs through On Farm Audits and Capital Grants with a further $250,000 committed for dairy farmers through the Dairy Energy Efficiency Program.
The Tasmanian Liberal Government is committed to protecting and building the agriculture sector, recognising it is vital employer in many regional communities.
As the Minister for Primary Industries, I am extremely proud of the way the agricultural sector has adapted to new regulations, rolling up sleeves and getting on with the job, ensuring the industry continues to operate throughout the pandemic.
As more businesses open up, our agricultural industries sector will continue to help lead Tasmania's recovery, driving investment and providing thousands of jobs, many in regional areas.
Tasmanian businesses and residents enjoy some of the lowest regulated power prices in the nation thanks to the Tasmanian Liberal Government's electricity price cap, with regulated power prices have rising by only 2.2 per cent in over 6 years.
Under the former Labor-Green Government, Tasmanian businesses and residents were slugged with a massive 65 per cent price increase over seven years, despite Tasmania's capacity to generate clean, hydro and wind energy.
Unbelievably, even now the Greens are opposed to job creating renewable energy wind farm developments such as Robbins Island, while Labor seems to have finally discovered hydrogen – oblivious to the fact this government is already heavily invested in developing Tasmania's hydrogen potential.
The Tasmanian Liberal Government's number one priority is to create jobs, rebuild the economy and protect the Tasmanian way of life, which is why we will continue to back agriculture and renewable energy projects across the state.
