The Liberal Government must modernise the process of land acquisition and compensation for farmers if it expects producers to meet the government's own 2050 target of a $10 billion farm gate value.
Tasmania is experiencing an expansion of irrigation and energy projects across the state, including the proposed Northern Midlands Irrigation Scheme and the upgrade of transmission line energy infrastructure.
Tasmanian farmers absolutely support growth but are feeling disgruntled and let down by the Liberal Government who are failing to listen are more consumed with their obsession over stadium projects rather than providing fibre and food for the nation.
In 2019, the government announced its Our Infrastructure Future 30-Year Infrastructure Strategy but it failed to address how land would be acquired and how Tasmanians, including our farmers, would be compensated.
Instead, farmers are being faced with having their best farming land compulsory acquired with old school compensation for the loss of this land, production and associated business impacts.
While understanding the need for public infrastructure, Cressy farmer Oliver Scott-Young is just one producer impacted by the government's inability to contemporise its legislation and see that government business enterprises work together with our farmers.
This can be a win-win situation, instead our farmers are the ones losing out.
Under a Labor Government, we would ensure that our farmers' interests are protected and that all Tasmanians reap the rewards of these projects and their hard work.
It is time that Primary Industries Minister Jo Palmer stood up to her colleague and Energy Minister Guy Barnett so that farmers' interests were protected.
Rebecca White MP
Labor Leader, Member for Lyons
Janie Finlay MP
Shadow Minister for Primary Industries and Water
