Mr. WILL HODGMAN (Franklin - Leader of the Opposition) - Mr Speaker, I will be relatively brief because I appreciate other members are keen to speak on this matter, which is one of great importance to one of Tasmania's key sectors, the agricultural industry. This is a very important part of our economic and social fabric, and one which we are very keen to see receives the support and assistance that the State Government, we believe, should be providing. We are not at all convinced that the State Government is doing everything it can to properly assist the sector, and we will continue to raise these issues in an appropriate forum such as this, and to bring it to the attention of the Parliament.

 

The shadow Minister for Primary Industries, Mr Rockliff, receives extensive representations on behalf of the agricultural sector. He is certainly aware of all the issues and has detailed some of them today. He wrote to the Federal Minister last week. He has certainly been proactive, and will lend whatever assistance he can to lobby the Federal Government. There is no problem in doing that. So if the minister is true to his word and can make the necessary arrangements, Mr Rockliff will do what he can.

 

The drought conditions in this State are forecast to go on for some time. This is not a matter that we anticipate will be off the radar for quite a while. Not just this State but also the country as a whole are expected to face long-term water challenges for many years ahead. It is a critical policy area confronting governments. Australia has obviously always been a very dry continent, but with climate change the situation is worsening. We do need to turn our attention to fixing water scarcity problems: conserving water, removing obstacles to ongoing storage, ensuring that water development planning in this State is expedited so that this precious resource is properly utilised and preserved for future generations.

 

The agricultural sector is a very critical part of our economic and social fabric. Whilst it uses a relatively small percentage of our water resource, its contribution is critical to our economy, so we must provide assistance and support to that sector in a very practical way. We are concerned that the Labor Government's 2001 water development plan has been dumped in the too-hard basket. Farmers are clearly frustrated by red tape and other fees and impediments to their development. With rainfall predicted to fall less in Tasmania than in other parts of Australia, it obviously presents massive opportunities for our State to capitalise on its natural advantages, and this includes water development and drought-proofing our farms.

 

Mr Speaker, I will leave it at that and allow other members to make a contribution to what is a very important debate.