High praise in Parliament

The THA was honoured in October 2024 when The Hon Mike Gaffney (MLC) read a speech about Tasmanian hemp into the Hansard. He graced the THA with these very kind words “I was very impressed with the AGM. The enthusiasm, the camaraderie and the commitments by those involved is something I rarely witness at AGMs. I thoroughly enjoyed it” . We are deeply grateful to you Senator! Please watch the video here or read the transcript below.

[11.13 a.m.]

Mr GAFFNEY (Mersey) - Mr. President, this morning I will focus on Tasmanian hemp. A few weeks ago on a Friday afternoon, I went online to join the annual general meeting of the Tasmanian Hemp Association. I was fascinated by the organisation and the work being undertaken by a small but dedicated group. I felt it was important to share that information with honourable colleagues and those listening in the wider community.

In 2022, the United Nations acknowledged industrial hemp as a very highly versatile crop, with significant financial potential, estimating the global industry could be worth $18.6 billion by 2027.

Hemp is resource efficient - using less water than cotton, absorbing large amounts of carbon and when grown in rotation improves the yields of crops such as wheat. Hemp is also highly sustainable as every part of the plant from the roots to the seeds can be used for food, fibre, extracts and fodder.

Tasmania was one of the first states to have an industrial hemp act, with our state's bill being introduced in 2015. The legislation was created through the vision of the now Premier, Jeremy Rockliff, then minister for Primary Industries, and a bipartisan working group that recognised the benefits of this ecologically sound group.

The THA was founded five years before this legislation and is the state's peak industry body. Initially run by volunteers, the THA received a state government grant in 2018, allowing it to fund part-time staff and has built on its strengths over the past six years.

I think what is important here is this is quite a fledgling group and I will be interested to see where this goes and so would other members.

The THA is currently governed by nine skilled board members. It interacts with 50 plus hemp licence holders and has a broad network that includes 60 financial members and 16 corporate members including Hansen Yuncken, Tas City Building, Midland Seeds, Norske Skog and UTAS. The THA organises public education events, host hempcrete building workshops and reaches many Tasmanians through its newsletters, websites and social media platforms.

Tasmania saw rapid growth in the hemp industry between 2016 and 2020, with the planting area reaching 1400 hectares. This represents about 80 per cent of the nation's hemp production. The Tasmanian farmgate value peaked at approximately $4 million. However, this growth was disrupted by external factors including the COVID pandemic, the war in Ukraine and rising costs for agricultural imports. Additionally, local supermarkets replaced many Australian hemp products with cheaper imports from China and Canada.

One of the industry's ongoing struggles is the public confusion between low-THC industrial hemp and high-THC cannabis or marijuana. This misunderstanding unfortunately impacts marketing efforts, as platforms such as Facebook and Instagram automatically block ads that mention hemp products. This makes it incredibly difficult to sell hemp products, advertise events or educate consumers. It is interesting to note hemp products currently available for purchase in Tasmania include food, seed or hearts, oil, protein and flour, pharmaceuticals, skin, hair, hair care (tbc 11.16.40) and extracts, alcoholic drinks, beer, gin, rum and building materials.

Further regulatory hurdles emerged recently when the federal Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority classified hemp seed oil as a veterinary clinical, preventing its use in livestock feed, despite it being approved for human consumption. Despite these challenges, interest in hemp products continues to grow. Tasmania has maintained its reputation as the country's leading producer of premium hemp for food.

In 2020, the THA developed a business case that led to the creation of XHemp, a venture now employing nine women and supplying locally produced hemp fibre to over 30 building projects, including the UTAS Forestry Building Project, the largest use of hempcrete in the southern hemisphere.

The THA has also undertaken important projects such as managing the industrial hemp variety trials alongside the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and Pinion Advisory (OK).

It also launched Australia's first national consumer awareness campaign, Eat Tassie Hemp, which featured celebrity chefs and garnered over half a million views, most of whom were not even aware that you can eat hemp seeds.

The THA continues to work closely with government bodies and recently played a role in reviewing the Tasmanian Industrial Hemp Act, which is in its final stages.

In other legislation, it would help the industry if all reference to cannabis in the Misuse of Drugs Act was amended to high-THC cannabis. The THA also believes cannabis should be removed from the Poisons Act altogether. While the hemp industry in Tasmania is still in its early stages and the THA is not yet financially self-sufficient, both have made significant strides.

The association plays a key role in promoting hemp as an alternative crop and contributing to state carbon emissions targets.

Hemp is recognised for its carbon sequestration potential, capturing 15 to 22 tonnes of carbon per hectare in its short 100day growth cycle. The THA is now working with growers to better quantify these ecological and financial benefits.

In conclusion, industrial hemp represents a sustainable, economically viable and environmentally beneficial crop for Tasmania. Continued government support and public education will be crucial for the industry's growth, ensuring it plays a significant role in agriculture, carbon reduction and local job creation.

In closing, I was very impressed with the AGM. The enthusiasm, the camaraderie and the commitments by those involved is something I rarely witness at AGMs. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will let everybody know when the AGM is next year because it was really an interesting one. Thank you.