NORTH-EAST Tasmania would be transformed into an organic dairy zone under a future Labor government, Opposition Leader Bryan Green says. Mr Green told about 200 supporters at the party’s state conference on Sunday the ultimate goal would be to establish an organic milk and milk powder factory in the region. His address also included promises to restore funding to the Integrity Commission, make public all ministerial expenses and meetings, and boost support for victims of family violence. Mr Green said a Labor government would offer North-East farmers financial incentives to convert to organic production. ‘‘That would provide the economies of scale to build a factory there to supply the Chinese or other international markets with high-quality baby product,’’ he said. ‘‘That is the way to get a premium, create jobs in a region and take advantage of the massive investment made in irrigation.’’ Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association president Wayne Johnston said the policy was ‘‘wishful thinking’’ which he had not heard of ahead of the speech. ‘‘Some producers are going organic and others are considering it, so we can’t discount the idea altogether, but it’s got to have some serious consideration,’’ Mr Johnston said. ‘‘To convert from conventional to organic farming takes between five and seven years, so it can’t happen overnight.’’ However, Mr Johnston doubted whether the entire North-East would make the switch to organic dairy farming. Mr Green also committed to publishing details of all ministers’ monthly expenses and meeting schedules if Labor was elected to office. ‘‘In government we will routinely publish the monthly expenditure reports of all members of parliament including travel and other expenses,’’ he said. ‘‘In addition I also commit to publish the diaries of ministers so the public can see what their elected members are doing and who they have been meeting with.’’ Mr Green received a standing ovation for promising to implement a full family violence leave scheme for public servants, which would include leave entitlements on top of carer’s leave. ‘‘We must stand together to send a message that physical, psychological and financial abuse is not acceptable under any circumstances,’’ he said.
NORTH-EAST Tasmania would be transformed into an organic dairy zone under a future Labor government, Opposition Leader Bryan Green says.
Mr Green told about 200 supporters at the party’s state conference on Sunday the ultimate goal would be to establish an organic milk and milk powder factory in the region.
His address also included promises to restore funding to the Integrity Commission, make public all ministerial expenses and meetings, and boost support for victims of family violence.
Mr Green said a Labor government would offer North-East farmers financial incentives to convert to organic production.
‘‘That would provide the economies of scale to build a factory there to supply the Chinese or other international markets with high-quality baby product,’’ he said.
‘‘That is the way to get a premium, create jobs in a region and take advantage of the massive investment made in irrigation.’’
Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association president Wayne Johnston said the policy was ‘‘wishful thinking’’ which he had not heard of ahead of the speech.
‘‘Some producers are going organic and others are considering it, so we can’t discount the idea altogether, but it’s got to have some serious consideration,’’ Mr Johnston said.
‘‘To convert from conventional to organic farming takes between five and seven years, so it can’t happen overnight.’’
However, Mr Johnston doubted whether the entire North-East would make the switch to organic dairy farming.
Mr Green also committed to publishing details of all ministers’ monthly expenses and meeting schedules if Labor was elected to office.
‘‘In government we will routinely publish the monthly expenditure reports of all members of parliament including travel and other expenses,’’ he said.
‘‘In addition I also commit to publish the diaries of ministers so the public can see what their elected members are doing and who they have been meeting with.’’
Mr Green received a standing ovation for promising to implement a full family violence leave scheme for public servants, which would include leave entitlements on top of carer’s leave.
‘‘We must stand together to send a message that physical, psychological and financial abuse is not acceptable under any circumstances,’’ he said.
