Tasmania’s Industrial Hemp Amendment Bill 2024 passed the lower house of State Parliament on Tuesday.
In June this year, a bill was tabled in Parliament aiming to help the state’s hemp industry grow – referred to at the time by the State Government as the Industrial Hemp Amendment Bill 2023. As well as improved clarity, efficiency, and transparency for licensees, the bill was to also allow horticultural use of hemp products such as straw as an explicit licence purpose.
Tasmanian Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Jane Howlett, announced passing of the legislation on Tuesday; but under a different title to that announced in June – with the “2023” now “2024”; and with any further amendments since originally tabled. Whether the “2023” mentioned in the original June announcement was a typo isn’t clear.
The Minister said industrial hemp had the potential to be an important crop for Tasmania.
“Tasmania’s industrial hemp industry is nation-leading; thanks to our regulatory environment and to the hard work and determination of our passionate hemp growers and ongoing advocacy from the Tasmanian Hemp Association and the Australian Hemp Council,” stated Minister Howlett. “We want to ensure growers can get maximum value for their crops by using more of the plant, not just the seed, for value-added products including textiles, paper, fuel and food.”
Among other changes, police officers are now included under the definition of inspectors. This will enable officers to conduct investigations without needing to be appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, which will improve the timeliness and responsiveness of investigations. Regulatory gaps and transparency have also been addressed in relation to actions where a crop tests above 1 per cent for the intoxicating cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
The amended legislation has been passed nearly 3 years after a review of the Industrial Hemp Act 2015 commenced in 2021 with the purpose of considering opportunities to update regulatory framework and industrial hemp activities that were not contemplated when the Act was first drafted. A public consultation was part of that process.
“This Bill will provide sufficient flexibility to respond to industry priorities, creating avenues for local growers and experts to innovate, value-add and develop a prosperous, sustainable and valuable industrial hemp industry in Tasmania,” said Minister Howlett.
The full text of and other notes concerning Industrial Hemp Amendment Bill 2024 can be found here.
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