TasFarmers Matters - A year of advocacy and action

As we head into the Christmas break, it is an opportune time to reflect on the year that has been, and what TasFarmers has delivered for its members across the state.

2025 began with well below average rainfall across much of the state. TasFarmers was proud to be able to employ two Drought Resilience Co-ordinators, co-funded by the Tasmanian Government and the Tas Farm Innovation Hub. 

During the year, these roles played a key role in supporting producers navigate dry times and also improve their farming practices to be better prepared for the next major drought event.

During the first six months of the year, our advocacy team was heavily focused on achieving policy outcomes for members during both the Federal and State elections. 

At a Federal level, TasFarmers played a key role in delivering bipartisan support for the funding of the Greater South East Irrigation Scheme.

Our federal election campaign also delivered a 25 per cent funding boost to the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme, and a commitment to fully review the scheme’s effectiveness over the next 12 months. 

We were pleased to see the focus on regional communication during the campaign and look forward to improved universal service obligations requiring telcos to provide reasonable and equitable access to outdoor mobile coverage over the coming years. During the campaign, we stood up for the important role Self-Managed Super Funds can play for members in transitioning their operations between generations.

With the federal election out of the way, our focus then moved to the Tasmanian State Election. While barely 12 months had passed since the last election, we achieved some great outcomes for our members and industry, including a commitment to develop a new long-term strategy to drive the agriculture sector’s growth and a boost to agricultural research and development. 

We also achieved commitments to the growing problem of feral deer in the state; we are confident that changes to be implemented in 2026 will put downward pressure on the growing population.

The Government also committed to funding an Agricultural Career Coach through TasFarmers  –  something genuinely needed to attract and mentor the workforce of the future. 

We also saw commitments to explore the option of a farm fleet registration model for farm vehicles to reduce the burden.

In addition to our regular presence at AgFest, TasFarmers also launched its first conference in over 10 years. Farm X brought together over 300 delegates, suppliers and broader stakeholders for one day in August and was a significant success that will grow again in 2026. 

We also held four regional forums in Longford, Burnie, Bothwell and Scottsdale.

While it is hard to summarise all of the other advocacy achievements in such a short column, the following stand out as key items defining 2025. 

Firstly, we reached an agreement on behalf of landholders for the state’s first Strategic Benefit Payment for those directly impacted by the North West Transmission Development. 

TasFarmers and its biosecurity officer also played a key role in supporting the industry through the Mop Top Virus Incursion. 

Much effort again went into supporting our negotiating committees reach price agreements under an ACCC exemption with vegetable processors. In scenes not seen for decades, over 60 tractors and 150 producers travelled from across the state to Deloraine to work together in achieving a fair price outcome for farmers after significant pressure from processors to cut profitability.

From the team at TasFarmers, we wish all Tasmanian producers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.