Joint media release: Huge boost for farmers in Tasmania's south-east

The Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Prime Minister of Australia
The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, Minister for the Environment and Water
The Hon Julie Collins MP, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Brian Mitchell MP, Member for Lyons

The Albanese Labor Government is investing more than $150 million to deliver the Great South East Irrigation Scheme and drive economic growth in Tasmania.

The project will deliver a significant boost to the Tasmanian economy and create more than 400 jobs.

Powered 100 per cent by hydroelectricity, it will provide water to grow iconic Tasmanian produce like cherries, apples, salad vegetables, grapes, stone fruit and olives.

An extra 37GL of water every year will be available to farmers in Tasmania’s south-east – the equivalent to almost 15,000 Olympic sized swimming pools every year.

The new infrastructure will include 320km of new and upgraded pipelines, four new pump stations and new balance tanks.

After recently receiving a revised bid for funding from the Tasmanian Government, the Albanese Government will contribute more than $150 million towards the project.

The Tasmanian Government will contribute $75 million and Tasmanian Irrigation will also invest $75 million.

The funding for the Greater South East Irrigation Scheme comes on top of funding the Albanese Government has previously delivered for irrigation projects across the state – including the Northern Midlands Irrigation Scheme, Don Irrigation Scheme, and the Sassafras-Wesley Vale Irrigation Scheme Augmentation.

Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“Labor backs regional jobs, which is why we’re backing infrastructure like this.

“We know that water security is the key to securing economic growth in regional Tasmania.

“This will create jobs and economic opportunity, while keeping costs down for farmers.”

Quotes attributable to the Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek:

“Water is one of our country’s most precious resources.

“Labor knows how important increasing irrigation in Tasmania is, to provide water security for farmers and drive economic growth for the state.

“That’s why we are investing almost half a billion dollars in Tasmanian water infrastructure projects.

“It’s a win for Tassie farmers, a win for jobs and a win for the economy.”

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Julie Collins:

"Labor has a proud record of delivering for Tasmanian farmers, investing in irrigation infrastructure across the state.

"Our Government is already investing more on water infrastructure in Tasmania than any other state and territory and this funding will build on this.

"This is a big win for Tasmania and our world-class agriculture sector and again demonstrates that only Labor can be trusted to deliver for our farmers."

Quotes attributable to Member for Lyons, Brian Mitchell:

"This is a terrific announcement, especially since the money will be flowing as soon as possible to farmers in the south-east.

"This welcome news will provide security to get crops in ground and will ensure the south-east can continue contributing to the great Tasmanian agriculture success story.

"The announcement adds to the hundreds of millions of dollars the Albanese Government has contributed to irrigation in Tasmania irrigation since the 2022 election."