Paul O’Halloran MP
Greens Member for Braddon
Tuesday, 23 October 2012
The Tasmanian Greens today called on the Deputy Premier Bryan Green to negotiate a commitment from JB Swift to ensure the current King Island abattoir infrastructure remains in place, to give local beef producers a chance at setting up a co-operative-run facility.
Greens Member for Braddon Paul O’Halloran MP said that the recent decision to close the abattoir came shortly after the completion a number of taxpayer-assisted infrastructure upgrades, including a waste water processing and methane capture system.
“One of the conditions on the government loan granted to the JBS Abattoir on King Island was that they upgrade the treatment plant instead of dumping organic waste into Porky Creek,” Mr O’Halloran said.
“Meat and Livestock Australia and the Australian Government contributed to the cost of the treatment plant, which was designed as state of the art and a demonstration site in best practice operations.”
“Unfortunately the treatment facility was rarely if ever used because the company chose to close the abattoir on the island just as the work was completed.”
“Given the major infrastructure investments that have been made in the past few years, it would be a terrible setback for beef producers if the company just stripped the assets and left the island without a working abattoir.”
“The Greens are disappointed that the Minister didn’t take the opportunity today to commit to formally negotiating with JBS to prevent any potential asset-stripping.”
“The King Island Beef brand is a huge asset to the local economy, which is why the Greens have pushed for a feasibility study to examine the potential for a cooperative-run processing facility on the island.”
Paul O’Halloran MP Greens Member for Braddon
