New government subsidised flights will help Tasmanian producers get their wares back to international markets.
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Over the next 12 weeks, two flights a week carrying 15 tonnes of goods such as oysters, abalone, crayfish, vegetables and dairy will depart Hobart for Sydney where produce will connect with international freight routes and be distributed to key Asian markets including Shanghai, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore.
The Commonwealth will be contributing $10,000 and the state government $9000 per flight.
The initiative has been welcomed by the seafood sector which was one of the first industries disrupted in Tasmania by COVID-19.
Tasmanian Seafood Industry Council chief executive Julian Harrington said the sector was hit overnight in late January as exports to China were stopped due to the pandemic.
He said the announcement gave the sector surety their product could get to international markets as demand improved.
"With the freight logistics solutions and the support announced [on Wednesday] our fishers can get back out to sea and do what they do best - catch the best seafood in the world, send that to all parts of the world and promote the Tasmanian brand," Mr Harrington said.
"Now everything is getting back online, both domestically and internationally, we are very hopeful we can get back to a level of business-as-usual soon."
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Trade Minister Jeremy Rockliff said this package provided logistical support to exporters and allowed the state to maintain its international trade relationships.
"We have a strategy to grow trade to $15 billion by 2050, and vital to our economy is fostering ways to service existing trade routes efficiently and effectively, as well as opening doors to new opportunities," Mr Rockliff said.
Tasmanian Liberal senator and Assistant Minister for Fisheries and Forestry Jonathon Duniam said these flights would connect Tasmanian exporters with key interstate export hubs.
"These flights are not a silver bullet for the state's farmers and fishers who were hardest hit following the drop in air cargo, but they will help safeguard some of Tasmania's jobs and bring back export dollars," Senator Duniam said.
"Just because the flights stopped it didn't mean demand for our high-quality Tasmanian produce stopped."
Senator Duniam said after the effective closure of the Chinese market earlier this year, the Commonwealth had been exploring new export markets such as India, North America and Europe.
"There are so many growth markets we are working hard to get access into," Senator Duniam said.
When asked if he was concerned current tensions with China would impact Tasmanian exports, Senator Duniam said he was confident the Australian government would be able resolve any issue.