Fruit Growers Tasmania has welcomed Tasmanian Labor's Putting Farmers First Plan, and its commitment to supporting Tasmania's iconic fruit industry. "We appreciate the comprehensive commitments to support our growers and the work our organisation does to strengthen the viability, stability and confidence of the fruit industry here in Tasmania," Fruit Growers CEO Peter Cornish said.
"Labor clearly show they are listening. The majority of the requests we put to the major parties have been addressed in Labor's Plan."
In the Plan, Labor has committed to invest $1.85 million in Fruit Growers Tasmania to undertake a Business Risk Improvement Program, promote Tasmanian fruit in key industries interstate and overseas, support fruit industry development and facilitate trade for exporters and growers seeking to export.
"We're delighted the Labor party recognise that the Tasmanian fruit industry needs, and absolutely deserves, a four year $800,000 promotions budget which we can use to benefit all our growers and market our fruit to the world. It will ensure we can put our best fruit forward!" Cornish said.
This funding of promotion goes hand in hand with the four year commitment to support a trade officer for the industry. The package also includes supporting an agricultural trade mission to Indonesia and Taiwan within the first year of the government. The final part of the $1.85 million package is the funding of $500,000 over two years for a business risk improvement program to assist growers with the purchase of orchard rain covers and netting, something Fruit Growers Tasmania hopes the Federal Government will match.
Another key area is the commitment to an additional $3 million to strengthen biosecurity and to renew Fruit Growers Tasmania's priority agricultural pest and disease funding for a further four years.
For more information
Julie Inglis
Fruit Growers Tasmania Inc.
Tel: +61 (0)448 196 526
Email: comms@fruitgrowerstas.org.au
www.fruitgrowerstas.org.au