Federal Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce today slashed by half the farm finance support package for Tasmania that had been agreed by the former Labor Government.
Intended to assist farmers facing market failure, natural disasters and the impact of the high Australian dollar, the Farm Finance package was to have been worth $60 million to Tasmanian farmers over the next two years. Instead they are to get just $30 million.
“The funding ripped out of Tasmania has been allocated to increase available funds to some mainland states,” Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association chief executive Jan Davis said today.
“I am sure most Tasmanian farmers will smell a rat here and the TFGA intends to get to the bottom of it.”
“I hope this is not another case of ignoring Tasmania because we’re small and different,” Ms Davis said.
“Are we being punished for trying to drought-proof our farms through irrigation? Or is this just another example of mainland ignorance about the unique conditions faced by Tasmanian farmers?”
TFGA chief executive Jan Davis
