August Newsletter

We recently hosted  Opposition Leader Angus Taylor, who has been busy during the winter break getting out and about to listen to communities, and explain the Coalition's plan to restore Australians’ standard of living and protect our way of life (more on that beneath). 

The message from people in North East Tasmania was clear - they deserve to be heard, and their concerns about the future of Rushy Lagoon and Bell Bay Aluminium cannot be ignored.

Residents at Scottsdale spoke passionately about what the loss of productive agricultural land means for local jobs, food production and the future of their community. Mr Taylor listened directly to local farmers and community members who feel they have been overlooked throughout this process.

At Bell Bay, the mayors of George Town, Dorset, West Tamar, and the City of Launceston, as well as representatives from chambers of commerce outlined the far-reaching consequences that further industrial losses would have on Northern Tasmania.

Whether it is protecting productive farmland at Rushy Lagoon or securing the industrial future of Bell Bay, the Leader's visit demonstrated that these issues are not abstract policy debates. They are about jobs, communities and Tasmania's future.

Angus called for the Albanese Labor government to take control of these two critical issues.

The future of Bell Bay Aluminium is reaching a critical point. With negotiations continuing over a long-term electricity agreement, Northern Tasmania cannot afford for the federal government to sit on their hands while one of the state's most important employers faces uncertainty.

Bell Bay Aluminium directly employs more than 550 workers and supports around 1,200 contractors and countless local businesses across the region. It is a cornerstone of the Bell Bay industrial precinct, where businesses and industries rely on one another to succeed. The recent loss of Liberty Bell Bay was a major blow. Any threat to Bell Bay Aluminium would place further pressure on neighbouring industries, including Nyrstar and businesses throughout the advanced manufacturing supply chain.

During the lead up to the election, Bell Bay was identified as a beneficiary of the Federal Government's Green Aluminium Production Credit scheme. In Anthony Albanese's own words, for the four smelters involved would be Gladstone, Portland, Tomago and Bell Bay, and the scheme would provide a production credit per tonne for aluminium produced with clean energy. Yet Member for Bass Jess Teesdale has now confirmed it will be excluded, punishing Tasmanian manufacturing for being backed by hydro power.

Then we found out that Albanese had directly stepped in to negotiate a deal for Tomago.

The contrast could hardly be clearer.

The people of Northern Tasmania have every right to ask: why is Tomago worth direct negotiations with the Prime Minister while Bell Bay gets a broken promise and a shrug of the shoulders?

Community leaders, mayors and industry representatives have made it abundantly clear that the loss of Bell Bay would be devastating for the region. Tasmanians have already lost too much recently with Boags Brewery and Liberty Bell Bay.

The Tasmanian government, through Hydro Tasmania, is already supporting Bell Bay Aluminium with energy prices that are half what Tomago are paying in NSW. The Tasmanian Government has repeatedly indicated it is willing to play its part in securing a new power agreement. What has been missing is a willing partner in Canberra.

If Anthony Albanese can personally intervene to save jobs in Newcastle, he should be prepared to do the same for jobs in George Town.

Tasmanian workers deserve the same commitment, the same attention and the same support as workers anywhere else in Australia.

We are running on borrowed time, and a deal must be struck before the end of August. The future of Bell Bay Aluminium is too important to be ignored.

Labor members need to start standing up for Tasmania not Canberra.

While the sale of Rushy Lagoon has now been approved, serious questions remain about transparency, taxpayer funding and the decision-making process. Over recent months I have used Parliament, Senate Estimates and the media to push for answers on the role of government-backed funding and the impact this decision could have on Tasmania's agricultural sector.

Recent revelations that the Tasmanian Natural Asset Trust received an additional $8.8 million through the Support Plantation Establishment Program before the sale of the land was approved by the Treasurer have only deepened those concerns. Tasmanians deserve to know why public money was committed before the approval process had concluded.

As I have said publicly,"The decision may have been made, but the questions surrounding it remain unanswered."

Julie Collins, as Tasmania's representative in Cabinet and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, must explain what role the Government intends to play going forward, particularly given the significance of carbon projects associated with the property.

When Parliament returns, I will continue pressing for answers. Transparency matters, accountability matters, and Tasmanians deserve nothing less than the full facts about how this deal was approved and funded.

Last year I moved a motion to launch a senate inquiry into the hemp industry in Australia to investigate how hemp can contribute to our farming systems, soil health and the circular economy. As well as three public hearings, my senate colleagues and I travelled around the Meander Valley and Northern Midlands visiting farmers growing hemp, seed cleaning and storage facilities, businesses utilising hemp for building material, food and medicinal cannabis.

The final report has now been tabled, and I am pleased to see the Committee recognise what many Tasmanian farmers, researchers and businesses have known for some time: hemp presents a significant opportunity for Australian agriculture, manufacturing and regional communities. The report highlights hemp’s potential to improve soil health, support crop rotation, create new export opportunities, provide sustainable building materials and contribute to a stronger circular economy. These are exactly the issues that prompted me to move for the inquiry in the first place.

A key message from industry participants throughout the inquiry was that the biggest challenge is no longer proving that hemp can be grown successfully. The challenge is creating the policy settings, processing capacity and market opportunities needed to allow the industry to scale. The Committee's recommendations reflect this, calling for simpler and more consistent regulations, greater recognition of licences across state borders, reduced red tape, support for exports and stronger consideration of hemp-based products in government procurement. The report also recommends establishing a national framework to improve coordination and provide certainty for growers and investors.

Farmers and businesses should be able to focus on growing their enterprises rather than navigating a patchwork of regulatory requirements. Creating a more nationally consistent approach will help unlock investment, encourage processing facilities and strengthen regional supply chains.

The inquiry has confirmed that hemp is much more than an emerging crop. It is an opportunity to diversify farm incomes, support regional jobs, develop sovereign manufacturing capability and deliver environmental benefits at the same time. While there is still work to be done, the report provides a clear roadmap for future growth. I will continue advocating for the recommendations to be implemented so that Tasmania and Australia can realise the full potential of this exciting industry.

The full report is now available here: Opportunities for the development of a hemp industry in Australia

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Under this Labor Government, Australia is going backwards.

Since 2022, Australia has had the biggest fall in living standards in the developed world.

Government debt is approaching $1 trillion and Australians are being hit with new taxes.

To fix this, the Coalition has outlined our plan, including four immediate priorities:

First, lower taxes.

To restore aspiration and reward for effort, we will axe Labor’s new taxes on housing, savings, investments and small businesses.

By indexing tax thresholds to inflation, our Tax Back Guarantee will let you keep more of what you earn.

And we will back small business with a permanent $50,000 instant asset write-off.

Second, cheaper power.

We will use Australia’s abundant energy resources, keep reliable generation in the system, lift the ban on nuclear power and unlock more Australian gas for Australians.

Third, end mass migration and build more homes.

We will cap migration to the number of homes built so housing can catch up.

We will invest $5 billion in infrastructure to unlock up to 400,000 homes.

Fourth, better government.

We will limit spending growth, restore a cap on tax revenues and cut waste.

When commodity prices are higher than expected, we will bank 80 cents in every dollar of windfall gains to pay down debt and invest in nation-building infrastructure.

You can read more about our plan here - Our Plan to Fix The Economy. Protect Our Way Of Life. - Liberal Party of Australia