Jane Howlett, Minister for Primary Industries and Water; Eric Abetz, Minister for Business, Industry and Resources, 29 July 2024

Tasmanian Minister Julie Collins must back Tasmanian industries and jobs

The Tasmanian Government welcomes the appointment of Minister Julie Collins to the portfolio of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

Minister Collins now holds the pen on some of the most critically important industries to Tasmania’s economic prosperity.

Tasmania’s agricultural, fishery and forestry industries are the backbone of our economy and way of life, and play a key part in the Tasmanian Government’s 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future.

Tasmanian Government Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Jane Howlett, welcomed the move to have a Tasmanian representing the agriculture sector in the Federal Parliament.

“Minister Collins has a real opportunity to stand up for Tasmanians in these important areas, and I look forward to working productively with Minister Collins to get the best outcomes for Tasmania’s farmers,” Minister Howlett said.

“One of the first decisions Minister Collins must make is to immediately scrap the flawed biosecurity protection levy bill.

“The Federal Government also needs to immediately fund its share of the Greater South-East Irrigation Scheme so that the project can be delivered.

“I also call on Minister Collins to help fight for an expansion to the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme (TFES) to help reduce the cost of freight for fodder and feed for all of Tasmania, as many Tasmanian farmers battle through heartbreaking drought conditions.

“Unlike farmers on the mainland, Tasmanians don’t have road and rail options to secure the additional feed and fodder they need to ensure positive animal welfare outcomes and the existing level of TFES support per freight unit has simply not kept pace with the significant increase in costs in recent years.”

Tasmanian Minister for Business, Industry and Resources, Eric Abetz, said the new Federal Minister for Fisheries and Forestry must stand firm on backing Tasmanian jobs which drive our regional economies, and immediately secure the future of salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour.

“Thousands of Tasmanians are employed across these critical industries, and we welcome having a Tasmanian Minister who knows first-hand how important it is to provide certainty and stability to these industries, jobs, and our state’s economy,” Minister Abetz said.

“I am confident that Minister Collins will stand up for our sustainable primary industries and the unique natural environments in which they operate – not sacrificing either for the sake of the other.

“I look forward to her proactive engagement and action in championing these sustainable industry sectors with her parliamentary colleagues.”

The Tasmanian Government looks forward to working with Minister Collins to deliver important support and reforms to Tasmanian industries that are in the best interests of all Tasmanians.

Media release – Invasive Species Council, 29 July 2024

Fresh opportunities for environmental biosecurity reform as new Minister for Agriculture appointed

The Invasive Species Council welcomes the appointment of the Hon. Julie Collins MP as the new Australian Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and thanks outgoing Minister Murray Watt for his service.

‘We look forward to working closely with Minister Collins, as minister responsible for biosecurity, to tackle some of the difficult biosecurity issues on the table like fire ants and the looming deadly bird flu threat to our wildlife,’ Invasive Species Council CEO, Andrew Cox said.

‘Invasive species are one of the greatest threats to Australia’s wildlife and the main driver of extinctions in our native animals. Despite this, environmental biosecurity threats have often been underfunded or not prioritised by a department heavily focussed on industry priorities.

‘Fixing this will require reforms to elevate the funding and status of the environmental biosecurity office within DAFF and we are optimistic that Minister Collins will continue Minister Watt’s focus on this issue.

‘We thank Minister Murray Watt and his team for their constructive engagement on environmental biosecurity and invasive species issues.

‘The recent changes in DAFF leadership have given us improved confidence that environmental biosecurity issues are being given greater focus and we are eager to see this momentum continue.

‘We remain concerned that the current level of funding for fire ant eradication in Queensland is only about half of what is required and this is risking a fire ant invasion across the entire continent.

‘Australia is facing a potential wildlife massacre if the deadly H5 strain of bird flu turns up in spring, but we are not prepared. Increased funding for local planning and a national wildlife preparedness task force are urgently needed.

‘We will also continue to advocate for elevating the Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer to a status equivalent to that of the Chief Veterinarian and Chief Plant Protection Officer.

‘This needs to be backed by a substantial increase in funding for the Environmental Biosecurity Fund, which has only $825,000 per year. This is the only dedicated money for environmental biosecurity but the funding level has remained unchanged since 2018.

‘The current review of environmental biosecurity by the Inspector General of Biosecurity and the review of the National Priority List of Exotic Environmental Pests, Weeds and Diseases are exciting opportunities for improvement.

‘Minister Collins has demonstrated enthusiasm for addressing the feral deer plague in Tasmania and we believe she is well-positioned to extend these efforts to fund implementation of the national feral deer action plan.

‘The Invasive Species Council looks forward to working with Minister Collins to enhance Australia’s environmental biosecurity and tackle the invasive species crisis.’

 

Media release – Senator Nick McKim, Greens Senator for Tasmania, 29 July 2024

New Forestry Minister Julie Collins needs to end native forest logging

The appointment of Julie Collins as Forestry Minister presents an urgent opportunity to end native forest logging across Australia, the Greens say.

“Minister Collins must show leadership and end native forest logging,” Greens Forests Spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said.

“Our native forests are invaluable for their biodiversity, their role in carbon sequestration, and their cultural significance to First Nations communities.”

“Continuing to log our native forests not only makes the climate crisis worse but also destroys habitats that are home to countless species, some of which are on the brink of extinction.”

“Minister Collins’ own electorate of Franklin suffers directly from logging burns which pollute our skies, clog our lungs, heat the planet and impact on the tourism industry.”

“The scientific consensus is clear: we must protect our native forests if we are to meet our climate targets and preserve our unique biodiversity.”

“Minister Collins has a clear choice – she can side with big logging corporations, or she can stand with the Australian people who overwhelmingly support ending the destruction of our precious forests.”

“The time to end native forest logging is now.”

Media release – Bob Brown Foundation (BBF), 29 July 2024

Forestry and fisheries need urgent solutions

Australia’s forestry and fisheries need urgent solutions to secure a liveable planet for all of us, including forests, oceans and their wildlife, said Bob Brown Foundation (BBF) campaigners as the Prime Minister appoints a new minister to the portfolio.

“Our new Forestry Minister must secure the future of the job-rich plantation industry and end native forest logging immediately. Across this nation, the majority of Australia’s voters want an end to native forest logging. New federal Forestry Minister Julie Collins knows that 79% of Labor voters support ending native forest logging on public land across Australia. Ms Collins’ electorate is one of the only places in the world where the critically endangered swift parrot breeds and is home to the globally significant southern forests that are still being flattened by taxpayer-subsidised logging. It is time for the Labor government to end the climate-damaging, wildlife-killing native forest logging industry for the benefit of all communities,” said Jenny Weber, BBF’s Campaign Manager.

“As the new Fisheries Minister, Julie Collins’s first order of business must be to step in and act to protect the Maugean skate from extinction. The Maugean skate will be the first animal in the world to go extinct due to fish farms if there is no action from this government.”

“The previous Fisheries Minister completely ignored the plight of the Maugean skate. It’s time for the new minister to take her government’s promise of no new extinctions seriously and remove fish farms from Macquarie Harbour,” said Alistair Allan, BBF’s Antarctic and Marine Campaigner.