Libs target farmers with $150m spend

THE Liberal Party will provide a $150 million boost to Tasmanian agriculture if it is re-elected, with a focus on research and development to keep the state “ahead of the game”.

Almost half of that will go to irrigation, while the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture will get an $8 million injection to take government contributions to $28 million over five years.

Another $7 million will modernise Tasmania’s crown and TIA research farm assets.

The Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association would get $100,000 to develop a “living next door to a farmer campaign” to support neighbourly relations in a state where farms abut urban areas.

Primary Industries Minister Jeremy Rockliff committed to maintain the moratorium on fracking for another five years.

“Our farmers are already the most confident in the nation and we want to keep it that way,” Mr Rockliff said.

“We will invest $4.5 million to work with farmers and proc- essors on practical strategies to improve on-farm productivity and profitability throughout the supply chain in the red meat, dairy, wine, fruit and vegetable, wool, honey, hemp and organic sectors.”

At the policy launch in Sassafras, farmer Matt Young said agriculture was moving forward and the policy would boost confidence.

He welcomed the $20 million added to the AgriGrowth Loans Scheme, under which young people are given low interest loans to enter the farm sector or expand businesses.

The TFGA welcomed the policy as “further recognition of the importance of agriculture to the Tasmanian economy, which currently contributes over $1.5 billion a year”.

“The package is comprehensive and wideranging,” chief executive Peter Skillern said. “TFGA will analyse the package in more detail and will be making more comment in coming days.”

The Liberals pledged $2.4 million to move 100 Primary Industry, Parks, Water and Environment Department jobs out of Hobart to Launceston and Devonport, a policy criticised by public sector unions.