Llewellyn admits Labor’s lack of action on vegetable processing

Llewellyn admits Labor’s lack of action on vegetable processing

Primary Industries Minister David Llewellyn has admitted that the State Government has done nothing to address the problems facing Tasmania’s vegetable processing sector since it was warned of significant challenges faced by the sector in a 2007 Government report.

In a press release issued yesterday trying to spin Labor’s lack of action, Mr Llewellyn said:

“The Committee is currently considering how to best promote Australian-grown frozen vegetables, 95% of which are produced in Tasmania.” (emphasis added)

Labor was warned more than two years ago about the serious threat that our vegetable processing industry could fail, and yet all they have done is set up a committee which is “currently considering” what to do.

On top of that, we now know that earlier this year McCain opened a new $6 million facility in New Zealand, with the state Labor Government here seemingly oblivious to the fact and the warning signs it represented.

What is even more concerning, is that it seems it took the McCain crisis and prompting from the media for Mr Llewellyn to even think about a dialogue with Simplot about their future in the state.

When was the last time that the Government had a conversation with McCain management?

Labor has let Tasmania’s agricultural sector down by taking their eye off the ball and failing to take action to avert the current McCain crisis.
Rene Hidding MP Shadow Minister for Primary Industries and Water