Dry budget reflection of seasonal conditions

This year’s State Budget offers little in the way of new initiatives for Tasmania’s primary industries. The government appears set to roll over previous commitments without significant new investments in Agriculture.

TasFarmers has been reviewing the State Government's Budget for 2025 against its formal submission provided ahead of this year’s budget announcements, and the financial outlook for Agriculture mirrors the state’s dry budget conditions.

TasFarmers CEO Nathan Calmans said the state's peak body had concerns as programs that were repeatedly identified as priorities for regional resilience and agricultural growth remained unspent and promises to deliver remained unmet.

"Our priorities covered education, livestock welfare, and the need to support positive environmental and sustainability outcomes for landowners, yet the budget did not contain any clear initiatives from prior commitments or address current industry issues. 

“One area we've been scrutinising closely is the promised support for an education and mentorship program for the next generation of agricultural leaders. 

“It's been left out again, the government needs to explain why it continues to ignore such a critical pipeline.

"TasFarmers has always been very proactive. We've consistently called for long-term, strategic funding that supports the entire industry, and we’ve never shied away from doing so or asked for handouts. 

"We’ve also been asking for funding for a sustainability recognition program which is an important initiative to ensure Tasmanian farmers remain competitive and have the confidence to make investments for the future when it comes to climate change.

"As global trade markets shift and become more volatile, farmers need support to be market-ready, particularly for exports into new regions. Access to these markets will increasingly depend on farm sustainability and the ability to demonstrate that through quality farm-level data. 

"And based on the priorities outlined in our submission, we’d like to see the recommendations under our red meat strategy funded. We believe the pillars relating to animal welfare and surplus calves should have been treated as a priority.

"From today’s budget announcement, it appears the state GBE reforms will not result in any sales, so our question from the agricultural industry and most industries will ask is how will the reform of our GBE’s result in the creation of competitive market conditions.

“Reducing red tape, we agree with, but they have to get on with it. If they're not going to sell GBE’s then we need competition.

“We're calling it as it is and holding the government to account on commitments given during the election. Confidence within the industry is generated by the government listening to current industry insights and being genuine in keeping its commitments,” Mr Calman said.