Key Points
A Rebecca White Labor Government will put farmers first to unlock productivity, create jobs and deliver a better future for our primary industries.
Labor has consulted widely with Tasmania’s farmers, and we know they need our support to make the most of what is great; ongoing investment in irrigation, increased support for biosecurity, and a focus on inspiring, educating and training our young people to build a proud workforce for the future.
That’s why Labor’s Plan will:
- Protect farmers’ interests in relation to the North West Transmission Development and fully commit to the TasFarmers Farm Access Code.
- Unravel challenges with shipping and supply chains so Tasmanians can move livestock and other goods across Bass Strait more fairly.
- Work with farmers to ensure the future of irrigation continues as the schemes get harder to deliver.
- Unlock productivity by removing the barriers for worker accommodation on farms.
- Provide an additional $200,000 a year to ensure farmers have enough shearers to get the job done.
- Fully fund Safe Farming Tasmania.
- Fund Rural Alive & Well to continue their exceptional work in community engagement and support.
- Fund the Rural Financial Counselling Service.
- Further invest in school farms, career mentoring and promoting the exciting career opportunities available to young people in our diverse primary industries.
Labor is committed to continuing to connect with as many farmers and sectors as possible to further develop trusted relationships with farmers and others in industry to deliver the policies they need and deserve.
After 10 years of Liberal government, it’s time for a better future – and Tasmanian Labor will deliver that for our farmers and our agriculture industry.
Why we need to do more
After 10 years in office, the Liberals have failed to recognise the impacts of red tape and how their lack of action has affected productivity and farmer welfare.
They’ve proposed big projects like the North West Transmission Development but failed to stand up for farmers in the process.
Labor supports farmers and we know the difference between standing up and being in the fight, putting farmers first, and equally we know how important it is to sometimes just get out of the way.
“We will put farmers first, unlock productivity, create jobs and deliver a better future for our primary industries”
The details
Labor’s comprehensive Plan for farmers will:
1. Strengthen Biosecurity
A Rebecca White Labor Government will invest $3 million over four years and work with TasFarmers and industry groups such as Fruit Growers Tasmania to strengthen resources and expertise and protect Tasmania from pests and disease.
Fully fund three additional truck wash and effluent dump facilities in the North-West, North-East and Southern regions.
Labor also supports renewal in 2026 of the current ‘priority agricultural pest and disease/biosecurity’ funding for a further four years at $130,000 per annum.
2. Support Irrigation in Tasmania
Labor backed Tasmania’s first irrigation schemes and a Rebecca White Labor Government will continue to support the roll out of Irrigation in Tasmania, including committing $75mil toward the Greater South East Irrigation Scheme.
A Labor Government will work with the sector to ensure the future of irrigation continues as the schemes get harder to deliver.
We will work with and fund TasFarmers to conduct a detailed economic assessment of the current and forecast value that irrigated agriculture provides to Tasmanian communities.
3. Protect Farmers’ Rights on their land
A Labor Government will ensure fair and respectful infrastructure development on agricultural land and protect farmers’ rights by fully committing to the TasFarmers’ Farm Access Code.
Labor is also committed to Strategic Benefit Payments in a way that provides a genuine ongoing return to farmers hosting infrastructure on their land.
Labor will also work with North West Transmission Development proponents to advocate for landholders so that infrastructure is delivered in an appropriate way through their land, including by ensuring that North West Transmission Development proponents genuinely consult with landholders in a time-bound way. We will also ensure the removal of the existing easement and associated assets as the project is delivered.
A Rebecca White Labor Government understands the needs of farmers to be recognised as part of the processes regarding mining and tenement management.
Labor Governments have never forced, and will never force, farmers to give up their irrigated land for mining exploration.
4. Unlock Productivity and Growth
Invest $3 million to strengthen industry partnerships
Invest in the future of our wine industry by funding Wine Tasmania with $1.5 million over three years to ensure sustainable growth in the Tasmanian wine sector.
Invest $1.85 million in Fruit Growers Tasmania to undertake a Business Risk Improvement Program, promote Tasmanian fruit in key industries interstate and overseas, support fruit industry development and facilitate trade for exporters and growers seeking to export.
This includes supporting an agricultural trade mission to Indonesia and Taiwan within the first year of the government to strengthen the trade relationships in these important markets.
A Rebecca White Labor Government will also change the Planning Scheme to allow farmers to build accommodation for on-farm workers.
This will also involve greater flexibility for farmers under the Residential Tenancy Act, addressing planning restrictions and making it possible to construct modular housing on farms.
Labor will partner with TasFarmers to facilitate a taskforce to report within the six months of Government on reducing red tape and addressing labour and training issues.
Support TasFarmers to undertake an economic assessment of the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme that factors in increasing freight charges across Bass Strait with a view to preparing a business case for the consideration of the Australian Government.
Review shipping and port access on King Island and develop a plan to improve access, frequency and cost of shipping to farmers and commit to implementing the outcomes.
Ensure accountability and oversight of Government Business Enterprises to deliver better outcomes for Tasmanians.
Tasmanian Labor will ensure farmers pay a Tasmanian price for Tasmanian power with a cut and cap on electricity prices and by reintroducing the rebate scheme for contracted customers.
Support a trial of microgrid networks between multiple electricity meters on property and between properties to reduce operating costs and support primary producers share the benefit of renewable energy production.
We will also provide ongoing funding to continue the On-Farm Energy Audit and Capital Grant Program in response to high demand, and continue the AgriGrowth Loans Scheme and commit to the Rural Business Resilience Package.
Work with industry and the Federal Government to improve NBN and mobile coverage in rural areas.
5. Support careers in agriculture
Tasmanian Labor will expand the School Farm network and provide funding to employ more teachers to extend school farms to six more schools across the state providing more young people with high quality experiential learning in agriculture.
We are also committed to working with the Department of Education, Children and Young People to deliver a plan to revitalise the Hagley Agricultural Learning Centre and School Farm.
Labor will implement a program to bring farmers and agricultural service providers to secondary schools across the state to discuss the benefits of careers in agriculture, and invest $340,000 over three years for the Tasmanian Agricultural Education and Training Partnership to conduct a marketing campaign to promote career opportunities in the agricultural sector.
As well, a Labor Government will work with TasFarmers, the National Farmers’ Federation and the Commonwealth Government to actively promote the AgCAREERSTART program which offers 10-12 month on-farm jobs for school leavers, and Labor will continue to work with TasFarmers on mentoring programs for those starting out in the industry and to promote careers in agriculture.
Bring TAFE back in-house and take industry advice on skills shortages and program content and delivery.
A Labor Government will subsidise travel costs for apprentices undertaking training, and ensure there is a Matron associated with the Burnie TasTAFE campus so that underage students who are away from home to attend TAFE have supervision, in line with the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry and the state’s responsibility to look after young people.
Finally, Labor in Government will support the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture with a $3 million grant to construct a research and teaching Greenhouse facility at Freer Farm in the northwest, and invest a further $200,000 a year for three years to ensure aspiring shearers can complete a Certificate II in Shearing.
6. Commit to support services and programs to make things better for farmers
A Rebecca White Labor Government will fully fund Safe Farming Tasmania allocating $370,000 a year for three years for two Safe Farming Advisors and Tasmanian Labor will change the reporting structure for Safe Farming Tasmania to set it up for success.
We will provide $2.16 million to Rural Alive & Well over three years to continue their important community engagement and support services, and invest $450,000 over three years for the Rural Financial Counselling Service run through Rural Business Tasmania.
Labor will continue to support TasFarmers as they work towards developing a Tasmanian Sustainable Agriculture Recognition System.
7. Deliver for Tasmanian farmers
A Rebecca White Labor Government will further deliver for Tasmanian farmers through:
- Providing $1.05 million in additional funding over three years for animal welfare, including improving operations in our livestock processing sector to ensure better animal welfare outcomes, including the introduction of mandatory video surveillance.
- We will also invest further to support more veterinarian careers in Tasmania.
- Confirm ongoing support for (with review) EID for sheep and goats.
- Ensuring Tasmania maintains a value chain for surplus calves.
- Tasmanian Labor will review the Tasmanian Workers Compensation Legislation to clarify how the act is applied.
- Grant FermenTasmania $1.7 million to fit-out and equip the Fermentation Hub at Legana.
- Support Rural Youth of Tasmania and Dairy Tasmania with $350,000 towards the construction of a permanent multi-use structure at the Quercus Park site.
- Continuing funding for a statewide strategic weed program, based on Weed Action Fund principles, for the next three years.
- Back in the great work of Sprout Tasmania, with $80,000 a year for three years, as they support our small producers.
- Facilitate Tasmanian produce being prioritised in Tasmanian institutions, including hospitals, prisons and our school lunch program, by funding the Sustainable Institutional Food Procurement Tasmania project with $381,719 per year for three years to actively work with and connect farmers to facilities, to encourage greater use of healthy Tasmanian produce.
- And Support Eat Well Tasmania to achieve their vision of a healthy Tasmania focussing on our wonderful local produce.
- Investing in traps for farmers once the ‘Felixer’ feral cat poisoning trials have concluded.
- Not introducing a fire levy.
- Reactivating the Firearms Consultative Committee.
- Fund Tasmanian Women in Agriculture to support their great work.
- Investing $500,000 over three years to extend the Agricultural Shows Small Grants Fund.
- Working with the Federal Government and its National Anti-Scam Centre to ensure people in regional and rural communities are protected from scams.
The total costing of this policy is $6.1m/pa plus $81m in capital funding.