PRIMARY industries minister Jeremy Rockliff has rejected suggestions the Tasmanian poppy industry is crumbling under his watch. Labor MP David Llewellyn on Wednesday suggested the industry was poised to take a $50 million hit this financial year. He lay blame for a reported 50 per cent cut to harvests of the crop at the feet of Mr Rockliff. ''The Tasmanian poppy industry is collapsing under your watch,'' Mr Llewellyn said. ''The total area has halved from its previous coverage of 30,000 hectares to a projected level this year of some 15,000 hectares.'' Mr Llewellyn also suggested one leading Tasmanian poppy producer had jumped ship, shifting their operations to Victoria. Mr Rockliff quickly hit back, saying Tasmania remained the world’s largest poppy producer ''despite Labor’s best efforts''. However, the minister confirmed poppy harvests had dropped. ''This season, the International Narcotic Control Board confirmed there was an oversupply of opiate based medication, and reduced the global production allocations,'' he said. ''However, Tasmania remains the world’s largest producer of licit narcotic raw material and supplies half of the world’s demand, making us a vitally significant supplier to the global pharmaceutical market.''
PRIMARY industries minister Jeremy Rockliff has rejected suggestions the Tasmanian poppy industry is crumbling under his watch.
Labor MP David Llewellyn on Wednesday suggested the industry was poised to take a $50 million hit this financial year.
He lay blame for a reported 50 per cent cut to harvests of the crop at the feet of Mr Rockliff.
''The Tasmanian poppy industry is collapsing under your watch,'' Mr Llewellyn said.
''The total area has halved from its previous coverage of 30,000 hectares to a projected level this year of some 15,000 hectares.''
Mr Llewellyn also suggested one leading Tasmanian poppy producer had jumped ship, shifting their operations to Victoria.
Mr Rockliff quickly hit back, saying Tasmania remained the world’s largest poppy producer ''despite Labor’s best efforts''.
However, the minister confirmed poppy harvests had dropped.
''This season, the International Narcotic Control Board confirmed there was an oversupply of opiate based medication, and reduced the global production allocations,'' he said.
''However, Tasmania remains the world’s largest producer of licit narcotic raw material and supplies half of the world’s demand, making us a vitally significant supplier to the global pharmaceutical market.''
