Rural community "overlooked" in election lead-up

TasFarmers is calling on all political parties to present a practical vision for the future of regional Tasmania, following the release of its Federal Election Scorecard. 

As the 2025 Federal Election draws near, the state’s peak lobbying body for farmers there is still time to invest in key areas such as digital connectivity, irrigation, and the reduction of red tape, all areas critical to the long-term success of the rural sector.

Chief executive officer Nathan Calman said rural Tasmania had been overlooked throughout the campaign and that farmers were seeking genuine commitments from parties that understand the importance of food security and the need to invest accordingly.

“Over the last three years, producers have done it incredibly tough. They’re looking for a clear, long-term vision backed by policies that make life easier on the land and ensure a sustainable future for the industry,” Mr Calman said.

“Our report card shows a clear failure to invest in digital infrastructure in the region, where Australia’s agricultural value is created. Producers are still facing unreliable mobile coverage and paying higher costs for internet services.

“Despite repeated calls to fix the issue, neither major party has delivered a convincing commitment to digital communications in regional Tasmania.

“You only have to drive our highways or visit top tourist destinations to see the issue firsthand. In an age defined by connectivity, poor digital service makes us less appealing to visitors and undermines our ability to share our produce and promote our landscapes.”

Mr Calman observed that infrastructure policy too often ends at the city limits, and that must change.

“Our message to all parties is simple: don’t forget the people who live and work in regional and remote Tasmania. They deserve the same quality of mobile and internet services as those in built-up urban areas.”

TasFarmers acknowledged that both Labor and the Coalition have committed to addressing rising freight costs, which is currently the biggest challenge for regional businesses.

“We’ve been encouraged by strong commitments from both sides, but we are still pushing for a commitment to reviewing the longer-term model of the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme, to make it sustainable within the first year of the next federal parliament. 

Mr Calman also welcomed recent pre-election announcements around the Greater Southeast Irrigation Scheme, but said the final piece of the puzzle remained funding for the Tamar Irrigation Scheme.

“Our farmers are looking for that final tranche of investment once the business case for the Tamar Irrigation scheme is complete. It's time to get on with it.”

The TasFarmers scorecard also highlights red tape as a major barrier for the rural sector, an issue that requires urgent attention.

“We’ve seen policy proposals in recent years that have caused real concern for regional communities.

"We remain seriously concerned about the potential introduction of new taxes on primary producers, such as the unprecedented taxation of unrealised capital gains on superannuation.

“Such additional costs on producers pose the risk of being the straw that breaks the camel's back for producers who are only just breaking even in the current operating environment," Mr Calman said.

“What we need now is common-sense policy that clears the way for farming communities to thrive, not additional red and green tape burdens that hold them back,” Mr Calman said.

The full report card is available in the Federal Election Priority Report at https://tasfarmers.com.au/news/election2025.