Agriculture the bright light in gloomy Budget

The State Budget is a depressing testament to Tasmania’s dire economic situation, highlighted by the Treasurer’s reluctance to be up front about the disastrous blow out in the Budget, Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association chief executive Jan Davis said today.

“A 50 per cent blow out in the budgeted deficit and you had to battle through the paperwork to find it,” she said.

“When you look at the contraction in the economy and the fact it gets no better next year, we should thank our lucky stars that agriculture remains one of the few bright lights ahead.
“Treasury notes ‘the prospects for some parts of Tasmania’s agricultural industry continue to be strong’.

“Despite this comment it would seem there are no new big ticket items for farmers and agriculture generally.”

Ms Davis welcomed the $1.65 million over the next four years, managed by Tasmanian Irrigation, that will capitalise on the growing irrigation infrastructure to optimise use of the land.

“That’s a sensible approach to maximising Tasmania’s food-growing potential, which, in turn, seeks to ensure we play our part in better achieving food security.”

Ms Davis said she also welcomed continued funding for the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture ($5 million).

“However, perhaps it is time for a reassessment of priorities. We are running four ports, three major hospitals, schools that are questionably viable and we are handing out compensation money to people in forestry who were going to leave in any case. Nobody else gets that sort of golden handshake,” Ms Davis said.

“Time for a reappraisal of where we are going?”
Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association chief executive Jan Davis