Cartoons
Premier dangles a carrot
BY ALISON ANDREWS CHIEF REPORTER (Examiner)
THE State Government could step in to save a 60-year-old North and North-West vegetable growing industry and Circular Head processing plant.
Premier David Bartlett said yesterday that his Government would do anything it could to protect the livelihood of 100 McCain vegetable farmers – from Cressy to Smithton – as well as the jobs of nearly 200 people at the North-West McCain Foods processing plant.
This will include, in the short term, a mercy dash to Melbourne this Friday to meet McCain Foods Australia managing director Steven Yung.
Mr Bartlett will try to get the Canadian-based company to reverse its shock decision to quit the state early next year.
But the Premier also said at Smithton yesterday that he would not rule out the Government stepping in to keep the Tasmanian industry operating and to protect the jobs of the workers.