The Liberal Government has taken a key step in setting the State’s primary industries on the path to realising our vision of a ten-fold increase in the value of the sector by 2050.
I am announcing today the creation of AgriGrowth Tasmania, a one-stop division within my Department that will champion a whole-of-government approach to growing our primary industries.
AgriGrowth Tasmania will link industry and government in this State like never before; providing more responsive and targeted support to build on our competitive strengths.
This is not about the traditional regulatory role of government; but about working cooperatively with industry to seize new opportunities that will create jobs.
The first priority of this Government is jobs, and the first priority of AgriGrowth Tasmania will be liaising with key sectors on how we can attract investment and grow employment.
Building on our election commitments to support our primary industries, AgriGrowth’s role will include:
• Identify opportunities in value-added food production, such as working with the dairy industry to partner the growth in demand in Asian markets;
• Work in partnership with the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture to identify more targeted research and development that directly benefits industry;
• Work with our education and training sector to support the skill requirements of the industry into the future;
• Identify how our competitive, natural advantages can play a greater role in exploiting Tasmania’s premium brand.
We are confident that the work of AgriGrowth Tasmania, alongside industry, will prove to be critical to achieving the great potential that we see in agriculture in our State.
Jeremy Rockliff, Minister for Primary Industries and Water
