Economy
Poppy import backlash
The Tasmanian Government’s approval of Turkish poppy imports has drawn a backlash from within Labor, with two Federal MPs promising to take the issue to Canberra in support of angry local farmers.
The government is selling the one-off deal as a helping hand for a booming local business, but farmers fear the plan by processor TPI Enterprises to import poppy straw pellets from Turkey could jeopardise the industry.
The company is expanding its operations and wants to import 2-thousand tonnes of poppy straw in pellet form to produce narcotic concentrate.
Nick Steele from the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association says the one-off importation could create biosecurity risks, and there are other concerns.