Guy Barnett,Minister for Primary Industries and Water
The Tasmanian Liberal Government stands side-by-side with the Australian Government, the TFGA and peak Tasmanian seafood bodies in backing agriculture and fisheries jobs, and food production and supply as essential services.
We welcome comments from the Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud that the Commonwealth is guaranteeing food production and supply as we deal with the coronavirus crisis.
The priority for the Tasmanian Government is ensuring this state has the food we need and we are working with industry to guarantee supply.
Tasmanians can be proud that we are self-sufficient with low-cost reliable clean energy and produce a ready supply of food, including world class meat, wild and farmed fisheries and a sufficient variety of fruit and vegetables to meet dietary requirements.
However, three quarters of what we produce is exported off-island, so Tasmania also plays a vital role in keeping food on the plates of our interstate friends and colleagues.
Feed, hay, fertilizer and other agriculture products will continue being delivered to farms and this will also play an important role in supporting jobs in regional communities.
Freight will continue to come in and out of our state, and with TT-Line having capacity to carry extra freight, Tasmanians can be assured we will have the essential supplies we need.
The Tasmanian Government will continue to be the strongest supporter of our primary industries which are even more important at this challenging time when food security is a priority for Tasmania and the nation.
