Ive gotta say I agree with the Greens on this one... they make millions and millions a year.... Greens question federal funding for competing businessesUPDATED 16 MIN AGO Currently Tassals waste is being processed by Seafish Tasmania at its Triabunna factory. The Tasmanian Greens have questioned why competing fish processing businesses on Tasmanias East Coast have both been given federal money in the past two years. On Thursday the Federal Government announced it would provide $3.8 million for salmon producer Tassal to build a processing plant just outside Triabunna to turn fish waste into oil. Currently Tassals waste is processed by Seafish Tasmania at its Triabunna factory. When the new plant opens, it has been suggested that Seafish may have to downsize. The company received a Commonwealth export grant for its fish oil business in 2012. Tasmanian Greens Leader Kim Booth said it was counter-intuitive for both companies to receive money. It is very fishy that theyve given this money to two companies in this industry and ignore other industries that are holding out their hands for money, she said. Tassal are a big organisation, and public cash really should be for public services rather than to prop up private businesses, particularly in this case where there doesnt seem to be the need or justification. But Federal Employment Minister Eric Abetz said the Federal Government did not play favourites with one company over another. What we seek to do is play to Tasmanias advantages, and then partner with those companies, there is no doubt that yesterdays announcement will see a world-leading state-of-the-art facility which will see a waste product that was previously dumped being value added, the Tasmanian Senator said. Senator Abetz said the Seafish Tasmania plant was not able to process all of Tassals waste. Seafish Tasmania, which had previously lobbied to operate a super trawler out of Tasmania, received a federal export grant for its fish oil venture two years ago. A statement from company said it had no plans to sell its Triabunna plant where 25 staff are employed.
Posted on: Thu, 24 Jul 2014 23:42:20 +0000