The Coalition is delivering on its election commitment to build a more prosperous Tasmania with the announcement of the Fruit and Vegetable Taskforce members who will develop an industry-led growth plan for the sector.
Minister for Agriculture, Barnaby Joyce, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Senator Richard Colbeck, announced the membership as part of the Coalition’s ongoing commitment to strengthening the growth, productivity and sustainability of Tasmania’s primary industries in partnership with industry.
Minister Joyce said the Coalition was committed to improving economic performance by building on Tasmania’s natural advantages.
“The fruit and vegetable industries are important to Tasmania, contributing about $240 million a year to the state’s economy,” Minister Joyce said.
“Simplot growers met with Senator Colbeck last year to discuss the issues facing them. Senator Colbeck has been instrumental in establishing the taskforce and will continue to be involved with its deliberations and discussions.
“The expert industry taskforce will prepare a plan detailing what industry and governments can do to promote competitiveness, investment and jobs growth in the fruit and vegetable industries.
“The plan will feed into the ‘Joint Commonwealth and Tasmanian Economic Council’ and will complement and contribute to the Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper.
“Supporting and developing our primary industries is a government priority and I look forward to seeing the broad experience and insight the taskforce will bring in producing this plan for Tasmania,” Senator Colbeck said.
“The Fruit and Vegetable Taskforce includes some very experienced members, who I am confident will make an excellent contribution.”
The members of the Fruit and Vegetable Taskforce are:
Dr Michele Allan (Chair)
Mr David Addison of Charlton Farms
Ms Sally Chandler from the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Mr Andrew Craigie from Heathermoor and Springbanks farms
Mr Simon Drum of Harvest Moon
Mr Callum Elder of Simplot Australia
Mr Stuart Greenhill of Greenhill Bros
Ms Lucy Gregg from Reid Fruits
Mr Howard Hansen of Hansen Orchards
Mr Anthony Houston of Houston Farms
Mr Chris Oldfield from Tasmanian Irrigation Pty Ltd
Mr Michael Toby of Costa Group
Coalition members of the taskforce will be Minister Joyce and Mr Eric Hutchinson MP, the Federal Member for Lyons.
• ERic Hutchinson: NEW FRUIT AND VEGETABLE TASKFORCE TO GROW TASMANIAN INDUSTRY
LYONS Liberal MHR Eric Hutchinson today welcomes the appointment of Tasmania’s Fruit and Vegetable Taskforce and looks forward to working with the impressive, industry-led group.
Federal Minister for Agriculture Barnaby Joyce and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture Richard Colbeck announced the make-up of the taskforce earlier today.
Mr Joyce said that the appointment of the taskforce was part of the government’s election commitment to build a more prosperous Tasmania.
The group will be charged with developing an industry-led growth plan for the sector.
Tasmanian Senator Colbeck said that the taskforce included some very experienced people whose industry insight would help generate a plan on what industry and governments could do to promoted competitiveness, investment and jobs growth in the fruit and vegetable industries.
Mr Hutchinson has been appointed as the other government member of the taskforce alongside Mr Joyce.
“I am really looking forward to working with this group of people on the fruit and vegetable industries,’’ Mr Hutchinson said.
“I made the comment during the election campaign that something this was important for the state and important for my electorate of Lyons so it’s wonderful to see it up and running.’’
Mr Hutchinson said that government had a responsibility to ensure that business had the confidence to invest.
“It’s all about deregulation to make business more efficient.
“We have started to do that with a Repeal Day planned for next Wednesday in Parliament when the government will begin the task of reducing red tape.
“We have all started to tackle the issues of Bass Strait with the Productivity Commission review.’’
Fruit and vegetable industry members of the new taskforce are:
Michele Allan (chairman); David Addison, Charlton Farms; Sally Chandler, Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Andrew Craigie, Heathermoor and Springbanks farms; Simon Drum, Harvest Moon; Callum Elder, Simplot Australia; Stuart Greenhill, Greenhill Bros; Lucy Gregg, Reid Fruits; Howard Hansen, Hansen Orchards; Anthony Houston, Housten Farms; Chris Oldfield, Tasmanian Irrigation Pty Ltd and Michael Toby, Costa Group along with Mr Joyce and Mr Hutchinson.
Minister for Agriculture, Barnaby Joyce, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Senator Richard Colbeck
