Clarke and Freer Farms

The petition of Tasmanian citizens draws to the attention of the House: That the agricultural education and training facilities of Clarke Farm and Freer Farm, totalling 170 hectares, in the state's north-west provide significant and important training opportunities in the agricultural sector. Further, that Freer Farm offers important training opportunities without the Occupational Health and Safety Issues faced by on-farm training programs, which greatly benefits students and primary producers. That if the state is serious about addressing the skills crisis, training facilities must be maintained and enhanced. Therefore, the proposed sale of either Clarke Farm or Freer Farm or both places at risk the provision of high quality agricultural training which will be to the detriment of the agricultural sector around Tasmania, and appears to be contrary to the Premier's goal of Tasmania being a 'food bowl' for the rest of the country. Your petitioners, therefore request the House to: Direct the Tasmanian government to commission an independent assessment of agricultural training capacity in the north-west prior to any sale of Clarke Farm which should only proceed if the standard of agricultural training in the north-west is not compromised, and to further direct the government to retain Freer Farm as an agricultural education and training facility.