The Hodgman Liberal Government is the strongest supporter of Tasmania’s agricultural sector.
Today we’re announcing the creation of a working group to provide advice and recommendations to the Government on the future of Tasmania’s livestock industry.
"We have established the Tasmanian Meat Industry Working Group (TMIWG) to look at short and medium term actions as well as the long term strategy required to underpin a sustainable livestock industry," Mr Barnett said.
"We have also tasked it to look at ways we can increase the trade, marketing, value and sales of the Tasmanian meat sector.
The working group will be chaired by Liberal Member for Montgomery, Leonie Hiscutt, with membership made up of a broad section of both industry and government:
- Chair – Hon Leonie Hiscutt MLC, The Leader of Government Business in the Legislative Council, and Member for Montgomery reporting to the Minister for Primary Industries and Water.
- Tasmanian Agricultural Productivity Group representing agribusiness – Jim Wilson (and working group Deputy Chair)
- Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association representing commercial farming – Brett Hall and Georgie Burbury
- Tasmanian Island Pork Alliance representing pig producers – Alan Broomby
- Australian Meat Industry Council – representing retailers, processors and smallgoods manufacturers – Oliver Stankovski
- Sprout Tasmania representing small producers – Jennifer Robinson
- Secretary of the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment – John Whittington
- Secretary of the Department of State Growth – Kim Evans
Mrs Hiscutt said she was ready to work with Working Group members, the industry, key stakeholders, workers and the community on a long-term strategy for a sustainable livestock industry.
"We are confident that the meat industry has a bright future," she said.
"We’ll be seeking input as required from key stakeholders including producers, livestock agents/ buyers and wholesalers, transport operators and other industry representatives and organisations as appropriate."
"It is important that we continue to support the red meat industry, the farmgate value of which was $400 million in the latest Agri-Food scorecard (2016-17)," Mrs Hiscutt said.
Growing our meat sector is a key part of our Agri-Food plan which aims to grow the farmgate value of agriculture to $10 billion by 2050.
Terms of reference for the working group can be found here:
http://www.premier.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/422153/Tasmanian_Meat_Industry_Working_Group_ToR_November_2018.pdf
