Guy Barnett,Minister for Resources
The Tasmanian Liberal Government is the strongest supporter of the State jobs-rich mining and forestry sectors which are delivering more jobs and a vital economic boost for our State.
Our renewable and sustainable forestry sector is providing the timber we need to build more homes and our well-regulated mining and minerals processing sector is providing the key minerals the globe needs as we transition to a renewable future.
Resources, particularly the mining and mineral processing sector, provide the lion’s share of our exports by value, accounting for more than 60 per cent of our record $4.6 billon export earnings for the 12 months to March 2022.
Collectively, the sector supports more than 10,000 direct and indirect jobs across the State and is at the centre of many regional communities.
As part of the 2022-23 Budget, the Government will commit $1 million in new funding to back the sector, supporting more jobs in regional Tasmania and encouraging new investment.
This includes $800,000 over four years to support Mineral Resources Tasmania in providing enhanced services and information to the minerals and construction sectors, which are currently in a phase of strong growth.
We will also provide an additional $200,000 to help address emerging national wood supply pressures and inform the Government’s strategic approach in achieving long-term sustainable wood resource security to support the sustainable Tasmanian forest and wood products sector.
The Budget also provides for the remaining $1 million of our $2 million funding commitment to assist the completion of power network infrastructure upgrades to support the re-opening of the Dolphin Mine located near Grassy on King Island.
These new commitments are on top of the millions provided through our 2021 election commitments, which include:
- $10 million to support our On Island Processing Grants Program;
- $2 million for a refreshed Geoscience Initiative, which is being supported by up to $3 million from the Australian Government’s Exploring for the Future program;
- $1.5 million to extend our popular Exploration Drilling Grants Initiative;
- $1.15 million to the Tasmanian Timber Promotions Board to value-add and promote Tasmanian timber products across the world; and
- $450,000 to help the mining and forestry sectors develop industry specific Diversity Action Plans.
Tasmanians know that thousands of jobs in the resources sector were lost under the Labor-Green minority government as they took the State into recession.
In contrast, the Tasmanian Liberal Government’s 2022-23 Budget is for all Tasmanians with record investments in training and job creation and also the essential services that Tasmanians care about – health, education, housing and assisting vulnerable Tasmanians with the cost of living.
