Media release – various groups, 10 December 2024

Regional industry alliance outlines its federal election priorities

Five organisations representing thousands of jobs and hundreds of businesses in regional Tasmania have joined forces and are calling on the upcoming federal election to prioritise regional communities, regional industries and regional jobs in Tasmania.

The Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Clean Energy Tasmania, the Tasmanian Forest Products Association, Salmon Tasmania and the Tasmanian Minerals, Manufacturing and Energy Council are calling for all federal election candidates in Tasmania to stand by regional industries.

Spokesperson Michael Bailey said there was too much uncertainty surrounding vital regional industries.

“The majority of Tasmanian exports come from regional Tasmania and there are far more people employed outside of the greater Hobart area than within it,” Mr Bailey said.

“Regional industry is the engine room of our economy, it is the life blood of communities and it’s Tasmania’s great competitive strength.

“These groups have come together because we realise that we need the strongest possible voice ahead of the upcoming federal election to make sure the concerns of regional Tasmanians are heard loud and clear.”

Mr Bailey said the groups had seven common priorities that they would advocate for in the lead up to the election.  The seven priorities are:

  • Reform environmental laws at federal level, especially the EPBC Act, which continues to be a handbrake on investment and job creation on a number of industry sectors
  • Modernise the TFES to make it fairer for exporters
  • Lock in Marinus Link and work to bring forward the timeline for construction
  • Back job-creating, energy-generating projects like the Robbins Island wind farm
  • Commit to maintaining support for a sustainable salmon industry, especially in Macquarie Harbour
  • Commit to a sustainable future for Tasmania’s forest sector
  • Acknowledge the Tarkine is and has been a mixed land-use zone for over a century and agree there is no case to change the classification of the region and allow compliant development applications to proceed.

“We believe that these issues are crucial to the future of the state and that this election should be a referendum on who can best look after the interests of Tasmania, especially regional Tasmania.”

Editor’s note: ‘Clean Energy Tasmania’ is an astroturf group created by the TCCI.