The Tasmanian Greens today renewed calls for Swift Australia to place the now-disused King Island abattoir facility on the market, to give local graziers an opportunity to establish a producer-owned co-operative.
Mr O’Halloran today welcomed the release of a feasibility study into a new abattoir for the island, saying that the findings confirmed the Greens’ view that that an abattoir could succeed with the right support, business model and marketing.
“The reassuring message in this report is that beef processing on King Island has a bright future, with the right kind of marketing, support and business model,” Mr O’Halloran said.
“The Greens remain confident the best way to deliver value to local community is through a producer-owned co-operative that retains the profits on the island.”
“The King Island Beef brand is a huge asset to the local economy, and the local producers have already shown that they are prepared to reach deep into their own pockets to support it.”
“I recently travelled to King Island with Tasmanian Greens Senator Peter Whish Wilson and two investment experts from Greenard Willing to assess opportunities for investment in beef processing on the island.”
“They were amazed at not only the passion of the island’s producers for their world-renowned beef brand, but at their eagerness to work together to make it succeed.”
“That level of loyalty to the King Island Beef brand is literally worth its weight in gold, and our job now is to start exploring the right business model that will deliver for the island’s long term future.”
“Instead of spending about $30 million establishing an entirely new facility, the Greens believe that the best solution may be to make use of the existing infrastructure.”
“It’s nonsensical to build a brand new abattoir alongside a perfectly good one that’s ready to go.”
“Swift Australia has a duty to give something back to the community and the producers that supported it for so long, by offering up the abattoir for sale.”
Paul O’Halloran MP Greens Member for Braddon Monday, 17 June 2013
