The Greens’ Kim Booth is continuing to demonstrate his staggering opposition to growth and job creation in Tasmania’s primary industries.
The Liberal Government has a vision of growing the farm gate value of Tasmania’s produce to $10 billion a year by 2050.
To achieve this, we need substantial ongoing investment in irrigation, which the Liberal Government is committed to, with $30 million over five years.
But in the Greens’ alternative budget Mr Booth made clear that he would rip funding from the next tranche of projects.
In Budget Estimates today, he was sensitive to criticism of his stance, but failed to express support for the irrigation investment and then continued his attack on primary industries by questioning our vision for growth.
Mr Booth should explain why he does not support growing our primary industries and creating many new jobs for Tasmanians.
The fact is that he has form in criticising or outright opposing investment in agriculture, including irrigation schemes, and aquaculture.
Unlike the Greens, the Liberal Government supports our primary producers and is getting on with the job of encouraging growth across the industry.
Jeremy Rockliff, Minister for Primary Industries and Water
