Seafood Industry
Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to extend the celebrations that occurred last Friday evening which was the Stay Afloat Tasmanian Seafood Industry Council Awards for 2021.
This being my first Seafood Industry Awards, I can say it was an exceptional experience that brought together the industry across Tasmania to celebrate what has been a hard year for some but to bring a highlight to the incredible operators and fishers across Tasmania that bring seafood not only to our tables but across the country and across the world.
I first acknowledge the venue that hosted these incredible awards and the partnership that is formed between the TSIC and Nayri Niara at the Long House. For those who do not know, in Evans Street - just behind Hunter Street where I went to art school - the Long House has been constructed there and it is an incredible social enterprise which means 'good spirit'. I would have to say this partnership between the Seafood Industry Council and the Tasmanian Aboriginal community in this enterprise is a beautiful way to present and to consider and to reflect on the culture of fisheries and the future of fisheries together.
One of the things I loved about the evening was the arrival. On the platform just prior to entering the formal room they had laid sand on the concrete pads and built fire. Anyone who knows me knows that my spirit is refuelled with fire and there is nothing better than an experience to enjoy seafood on the beach, camping. You have had a weekend of fishing and on the fire or by the barbecue you cook up, as we were presented on Friday evening, beautiful Tasmanian abalone, oysters, periwinkles that were cooked over fire.
It was a beautiful introduction to the whole celebration that once in the formal room we had what was perhaps for me one of the most profound welcome to country ceremonies and it was the incredible Ruth Langford who took us through almost a navigated meditation to internalise and reflect on the past, on country, on community and culture and to take that through our experience of the evening. It was a beautiful platform and foundation for celebrating what is a great industry in Tasmania.
I acknowledge the work of Stay Afloat in partnering with TSIC and in particular, RAW, Rural Alive and Well, the work that they do, not only across our fishers in Tasmania but in other primary industries, in agriculture and just generally in rural and regional communities across Tasmania. An incredible organisation that is making a difference to the mental health support for regional and rural Tasmanians and in particular the work they do supporting suicide prevention.
What I am loving as I am learning and meeting with and engaging with an understanding more these incredible industries is the partnerships and the working together and the supporting each other that is happening. Given that I am a member for Bass and Shadow Minister for Small Business, I want to give a shout out for a local business that was recognised on the evening. Congratulations to Zac and Kristy, of Kyeema Seafoods, in Launceston, who won the Small Business Award. The work you do, to share stories and share understanding of the local nature of the seafood that you can put on the table of local Tasmanians, is incredible and it was lovely that you were recognised on Friday evening. For me it was a lovely night.
I am getting to understand more and more that the seafood industry. Our fishing community is all about family, community, support and people - particularly most often in our rural and regional communities together - and what TSIC have done and continue to do to support this industry and to put on these awards to celebrate all of the good things, should be commended.
Two of the people I met through this process are Julian, the CEO of TSIC, and the chair, Lindsay Newman, and on Friday night it was lovely to witness the awarding and the recognition of Lindsay Newman for more than 15 years' service to TSIC. He has been really kind to me in helping me understand on the fast-track lots that there is to know about the industry and you can tell from everybody in the room, their warmth and their respect for him and for the service that he has provided on long miles travelling in from the west coast into other parts of Tasmania to support the industry that he loves.
Finally, the awards occurred on Friday last week, which was World Salmon Day, and it was lovely to see Huon Aquaculture recognised for their commitment to the many people, often young people in rural and regional Tasmania and their safety on work sites. Huon was recognised with the safety award.
It is not only about the care and the provision of safety on site but particularly around the development and the technology that they are leading not only across the country but across the world in the provision of their strong workforce. It was an incredible evening.
It was lovely to be able to celebrate what for some has been a difficult year. As I said I love that this industry is about family and community but it is also about characters.
Squizzy Taylor was recognised and I love that the industry is so diverse that in one moment we can be recognising research and development and on the other, the best fish and chips in Tasmania. So, a shout-out to TSIC, to Stay Afloat and to Rural Alive and Well for the incredible work that they do and for the industry that was celebrated last Friday evening.
October 12, 2021 - 6:12pm
Video - YouTube
Ms Finlay question to Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Mr Barnett:
Since 2015, the Seafood Pledge has supported Tasmanians to obtain 7000 vocational qualifications, maritime licences and endorsements of maritime licences.
You have rightly trumpeted the success of this initiative as it has helped drive growth in the sector. Despite repeated requests from the Tasmanian Seafood Industry Council and Tasmania's three largest salmon producers, you have refused to re-sign the Seafood Pledge. Why?
What implications will this have for the industry's ability to recruit, train and maintain a skilled workforce?
-------
Ms. Finlay question to Minster for Skills, Training and Workforce Growth, Ms. Courtney
The Seafood Pledge has enabled thousands of Tasmanians to access skills training in the seafood industry, yet you and the Government have currently refused to re-sign the pledge.
Can you confirm re-signing the pledge would have cost less than $1 million per year and if so, did you not consider that this was excellent value for money?
October 13, 2021 - 11:02am
Video - YouTube