Opening of Wine Tasmania’s annual conference, Ferment 2015

The Hodgman Liberal Government is a strong supporter of industries that capitalise on Tasmania’s competitive advantages.

The Government welcomes the many direct and indirect jobs that Tasmania’s wine industry creates across the state, particularly in regional and rural areas.

We are working hard to ensure continued growth in the sector.

The Government recognises the wine industry plays a larger role beyond the direct economic benefits it brings to the state and plays a key role in continuing to build the Tasmanian brand.

Tasmania is known around the world for its premium food and beverages and this underpinned by our dairy products, salmon, fruit and vegetables and, increasingly, our ciders, whiskies, craft beers and of course, our wines.

The Tasmanian Government has a goal to increase the number of visitors to Tasmania each year to 1.5 million by 2020 and food and wine tourism has a significant role to play in achieving that goal.

In the recent State Budget there was investment of $30 million in irrigation, boosting the total funding for the second tranche of irrigation projects to over $90 million.

As part of the government’s commitment to stimulating agricultural growth we also announced a new low interest, income-contingent loan scheme in recognition of the long lead-time for farmers, including grape growers, to realise profit from investment in agriculture.

Just last month the Tolpuddle Vineyard Pinot Noir 2013 was awarded Best Australian Red Wine at the International Wine Challenge 2015 in the UK. It also received the Best Australian Pinot Noir and Best Tasmanian Pinot Noir trophies.

At the same event, chardonnays made by Stefano Lubiana picked up two gold medals, and a silver and bronze while sparkling wines from Jansz received gold medals and Bay of Fires, Dalrymple, Eddystone Point, Grey Sands, House of Arras, Pirie and Tamar Ridge all received silver medals.

It is also great news that Wine Tasmania believes that the state has potential to treble annual production from its current average of around 500,000 cases a year to 1.5 million cases a year by 2020.

It is my great pleasure, on behalf of the Premier Will Hodgman, to officially open Wine Tasmania’s annual conference, Ferment 2015.

Thank you again for the invitation to speak at your annual conference and we look forward to working with the Tasmanian wine industry and continuing to support industry growth to service increasing market demand.
Sarah Courtney, Liberal Member for Bass