Tasmanian agriculture has never been more important.
Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Jane Howlett, said the Tasmanian Government has made it clear under the 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania's Future, that it stands with our farmers against the Federal Labor Government's unfair new Biosecurity Tax.
"I wrote to the Federal Labor Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Murray Watt, calling on him to abandon plans for further unfair taxes on Tasmania's farmers," Minister Howlett said.
"Slugging our hardworking farming community with a Biosecurity Tax that will subsidise mainland Australia issues when there is little detail on the benefit to Tasmanians, is unfair.
"As it is, Australia's farmers already contribute $150 million in levies to pay the Federal Government for research and development, biosecurity screening and global market access.
"In Tasmania we know the value of keeping our island state free of pests and diseases and we stand with farmers in their fight against more levies for which there is little justification.
"Despite all of that, Senator Watt has indicated he will not be backing away from this plan.
"Labor's Janie Finlay has claimed very publicly that she stands up for Tassie farmers, but her silence on this tax issue is deafening.
"The Tasmanian Liberal Government will always stand up for Tasmania – against those in Canberra who want to dud us time and time again. Every Tasmanian Member of Parliament should be doing the same thing.
"When is Tasmanian Labor going to start standing up for our farmers on this important issue?
"Judging from the silence, I can only assume Ms Finlay and Mr Winter are standing on the sidelines supporting the Albanese Government and its Biosecurity Tax."
