Major party pledges: Carbon-free chickens, support for berry business
Carbon-free chickens and backing for the berry business were the highlights of over $13m in election pledges and budget cash handouts by the major parties in Tasmania today.
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CARBON-free chickens and backing for the berry business were the highlights of $13,705,849 in election pledges and budget cash handouts by the major parties in Tasmania on Wednesday.
Bass, Braddon and Lyons were once again in the money, but it was slim pickings for the safe southern seat of Clark and another zero-dollar day in Labor-held Franklin.
Labor’s MP for Lyons Brian Mitchell announced that an Albanese Labor government would invest $11m into Ingham’s Sorell operations to assist their conversion to a carbon-zero certified business and protect more than 120 Tasmanian jobs.
“This commitment will have lasting benefits for the immediate Sorell community, with 120 jobs now secured under Labor, and we’ll continue working with Ingham’s to pioneer sustainable manufacturing in the poultry sector,” he said.
Senator Richard Colbeck promised $70,000 for the Glenorchy Basketball Association for facility upgrades as the sport enjoys a local boom.
“Following the phenomenal first-season performance of the Tasmanian Jackjumpers, the GBA is expecting an influx of new players looking to take to the court,” he said.
“Our commitment will support upgrade works at both stadiums to ensure facilities continue to meet growing membership demand.”
Fresh from launching a Youtube attack ad highlighing some of Mr Mitchell’s ancient social media gaffes, the Coalition committed $2m to help with the expansion of Costa Group’s Distribution Centre in East Devonport.
Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor was in Braddon to make the announcement and said this funding would double the size of the existing centre
“The berry industry makes a significant contribution to our food and beverage sector and the wider Australian economy,” he said.
The pledge matches funding announced by Labor on Tuesday.
Mr Taylor also handed out $635,849 grants to local businesses from the Energy Efficient Communities program.
“Backing manufacturers in Tasmania to get ahead is a key priority of the Morrison
Government,” Mr Taylor said.
The Coalition has still not matched Labor’s pledge to upgrade the Hobart Airport runway, top of the election wishlist for the state’s business community and tourism industry.
The party also said it would commit an additional $3.7 million nationally in funding for the Headstone Project to establish an ongoing grant program to mark the private graves of around 12,000 First World War veterans who died after the war and are resting in civilian cemeteries.
The project started in Tasmania.
Labor on Wednesday also reannouced $2 million to help fund a feasibility study and early development costs for the proposed Whaleback Energy Park and community battery for Shorewell Park in Burnie.
Cash splash: $100m in pledges from Labor and Liberals explained
Tuesday, May 10
The major parties pledged or handed out $107,696,773 worth of government funding in a big spending day on the hustings across Tasmania on Tuesday.
Labor topped the spending promises with a further $100 million towards a bundle of irrigation schemes.
The Opposition committed the funding to Tranche Three of the Tasmanian Irrigation Scheme, which includes the Don, Flowerdale and Tamar projects in the North.
The Sassafras, Northern Midlands and Fingal irrigation schemes will also receive a cash injection if Labor is elected.
Franklin MP Julie Collins said her party’s commitment was a “great win” for Tasmanian farmers.
“The Tasmanian Irrigation Scheme has helped to forge a critical partnership between government and farmers and is a model for the rest of Australia,” Ms Collins said.
The Liberals countered with a $385,000 grant to help the commercial seafood industry set up a national online hub linking its workforce to employment, training and career pathways.
It was accompanied by a grant of $861,773 to help ensure “strong and fair supply chains across the seafood sector”.
Both amounts were announced in the federal budget.
Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia David Littleproud said: “every Australian producer deserves a fair negotiation process for their goods and we are working to ensure better market transparency across the seafood industry.
Labor pledged to invest $2.1 million to improve mobile coverage in Togari and Queenstown and $2.25m for Sheffield, Ansons Bay, and Tea Tree.
Labor member for Lyons Brian Mitchell said it would help address black spots.
“Reliable mobile coverage and broadband are increasingly essential for a good quality of life, especially in regional and remote areas,’ he said.
I have a positive plan to improve connectivity, and this will benefit local residents, farmers and small businesses.”
Mr Mitchell also pledged $50,000 in machinery for the workshop at Deloraine High School, and $50,000 in Swansea Primary School for outdoor learning space upgrades.
And Labor also announced $2m for Costa’s East Devonport Berry Distribution Centre to help expand capacity from around 12,000 tonnes to more than 17,000 tonnes for the 2026/2027 season.
Franklin Labor MP Julie Collins said an Albanese government would lift the industry.
“The fresh produce sector is a major employer and generates significant income for Tasmania,” she said.
“Our temperate climate, fertile land and abundant water make Tassie ideal for berry production.
“Local producers want to use the advantages Tasmania has to offer to increase their production and sell more to Australia and the world.
Federal Election: Big spend promised for cadets in Tassie
Monday, May 9
As parties continue to wine and dine Tasmania’s key marginal seats, the Liberal party will attempt to woo Braddon with a big spending promise on defence on Tuesday.
Federal defence minister Peter Dutton will join the Liberal’s Braddon candidate Gavin Pearce at Devonport’s Kokoda Barracks, to announce a $1bn spending spree for upgrades to reserve and cadet facilities across Australia over the next 10 years - $30m of which will be allocated for Tasmania.
Three of the 73 facilities which would get a facelift are in Tasmania, two of which are in Braddon, including $2.7m for the Kokoda Barracks and $4m for the Wivenhoe Depot.
The largest chunk of the funding destined for Tasmania will go to the Derwent Barracks, with $23m set to be promised.
“We want to provide improved opportunities for cadets through a number of avenues, including better facilities, enhanced experiences, mentoring and relevant skilling,” Mr Dutton said.
“All ADF cadets, whether it be navy, Army or air force, learn discipline, civic-mindedness, and useful life skills, while also kindling an interest in the ADF and the Morrison Government is proud to support them.”
The Liberal’s candidate for Braddon Gavin Pearce said the funding would support the local community and benefit the more than 500 cadets in Tasmania.
“The air force cadet unit in Devonport has doubled in size over the last two years,” Mr Pearce said.
“This $2.7 million investment into Kokoda Barracks will provide a new multi-user facility for the cadets, including training and classroom facilities and sleeping accommodation, and expand capacity for the reserves.
“Importantly it will support dozens of local jobs through direct engagement.”
The announcement also includes $850,000 for the TS Emu, which will go toward replacing a damaged water main to reducing erosion of the sea wall.
“The investment in Training Ship Emu is not only an investment in our youth, but will provide an important role in growing awareness of navy’s long standing youth program within Tasmania and throughout Australia,” Mr Pearce said.
Work on the TS emu is expected to begin in late June.
‘Not appropriate’: Albo responds to Tassie MP’s ‘disturbing’ posts
Sunday, May 8
LABOR will invest in a West Coast renewable energy park, a hydrogen project in George Town, a chicken’s producers push to become carbon zero and a berry business if it is elected in two weeks time.
Labor Leader Anthony Albanese made the announcements while visiting a market in Launceston on Saturday.
“Labor will invest $5m in kickstarting the George Town hydrogen project right here in Tasmania.
“This will create good, secure jobs for Tasmanians,” Mr Albanese said.
LINE Hydrogen plans to deliver a commercial-scale hydrogen facility which will use solar panels to produce green hydrogen to replace diesel in Tasmanian trucks and buses.
“Over time, LINE could also build at least five hydrogen refuelling stations across Tasmania,” Mr Albanese said.
The party will also put up $2m to conduct a feasibility into the Whaleback Energy Park.
“Once developed, this park would use the west coast’s abundant wind and water resources to produce green hydrogen for use in Tasmania, as well as export to the North Island and to the world,” he said.
When up and running, the Whaleback Energy Park could deliver over 4500 jobs in construction and over 550 full-time permanent jobs.
Labor will also partner with existing industries who want to change or update their operations to take advantage of new, sustainable technologies.
“A great example of this is Ingham, who are aiming to convert their Tasmanian operations into a carbon-zero certified business. Today I announce that a Labor Government will invest $11m towards that,” Mr Albanese said.
“We’ll work with Ingham to pioneer sustainable manufacturing in the poultry sector, which is scalable across its national operations. Labor will also partner with Costa, to expand the East Devonport Berry Distribution Centre.”
Tasmanian Liberal Senator Richard Colbeck said Mr Albanese needed to explain whether he thinks the behaviour of two of his Tasmanian candidates is acceptable.
“This week it has been revealed by the media that Labor Braddon candidate Chris Lynch previously pled guilty to being a drug dealer, on-selling the equivalent of around 550 hits of the dangerous drug ice,” Senator Cobeck said.
“Meanwhile, embattled Lyons MP Brian Mitchell has been exposed for a series of disturbing social media posts and appears to have gone into witness protection since they were reported earlier this week.”
Mr Albanese has already backed Mr Lynch said yesterday Mr Mitchell’s comments about women wetting themselves were made well before Mr Mitchell was a member of parliament.
“I’m sure that Mr Mitchell regrets that, and it’s not appropriate,” Mr Albanese said.
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