Julie Collins MP said it was an immense privilege to represent the incredible farmers and small businesses of Australia. Photo: @JulieCollinsMP.
Member for Franklin Julie Collins is facing big expectations from her home state after being given the Commonwealth portfolio of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Along with her ministry of Small Business, the Labor MP is taking charge of a sector Premier Jeremy Rockliff believes “holds the pen on some of the most critically important industries to Tasmania’s economic prosperity”.
Minister Collins’ appointment comes amid the Federal Labor Government’s first cabinet reshuffle since taking office.
Her responsibilities over Housing and Homelessness have been given to Clare O’Neil, while she takes over from Senator Murray Watt as he becomes Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.
Tasmanian Government Minister for Primary Industries and Water Jane Howlett joined the rest of the party in welcoming the appointment and said she looked forward to working productively with her.
“One of the first decisions Minister Collins must make is to immediately scrap the flawed biosecurity protection levy bill,” said Ms Howlett. “The Federal Government also needs to immediately fund its share of the Greater South-East Irrigation Scheme so that the project can be delivered.”
She also called on Minister Collins to help fight for an expansion of the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme (TFES). This being to help reduce the cost of freight for the state’s demand of fodder and feed “as many Tasmanian farmers battle through heart-breaking drought conditions”.
“Unlike farmers on the mainland, Tasmanians don’t have road and rail options to secure the additional feed and fodder they need to ensure positive animal welfare outcomes and the existing level of TFES support per freight unit has simply not kept pace with the significant increase in costs in recent years.”
The island state’s Business, Industry and Resources Minister, Eric Abetz, said the Federal Minister “must stand firm” and secure the future of salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour.
“Thousands of Tasmanians are employed across these critical industries, and we welcome having a Tasmanian Minister who knows first-hand how important it is to provide certainty and stability to these industries, jobs, and our state’s economy,” Minister Abetz said.
“I am confident that Minister Collins will stand up for our sustainable primary industries and the unique natural environments in which they operate – not sacrificing either for the sake of the other.
“I look forward to her proactive engagement and action in championing these sustainable industry sectors with her parliamentary colleagues.”
The Bob Brown Foundation came out to issue Minister Collins a mandate for “urgent solutions to secure a liveable planet for all of us, including forests, oceans and their wildlife”.
“Our new Forestry Minister must secure the future of the job-rich plantation industry and end native forest logging immediately,” said campaign manager Jenny Weber. “Across this nation, the majority of Australia’s voters want an end to native forest logging.
“Ms Collins’ electorate is one of the only places in the world where the critically endangered Swift Parrot breeds and is home to the globally significant southern forests that are still being flattened by taxpayer-subsidised logging.
“It is time for the Labor Government to end the climate-damaging, wildlife-killing native forest logging industry for the benefit of all communities.”
Antarctic and Marine Campaigner Alistair Allan said the new Fisheries Minister’s first order of business must be to step in and protect the Maugean Skate from extinction. He claimed if there’s no government action, it would be the first animal in the world to become extinct due to fish farms.
“The previous Fisheries Minister completely ignored the plight of the Maugean Skate,” said Mr Allan. “It’s time for the new minister to take her government’s promise of no new extinctions seriously and remove fish farms from Macquarie Harbour.”
