00:02In the far northeast of Tasmania, the recent sale of the state's largest farm has turned
00:08some heads.
00:09We have magnificent, productive farmland in Tasmania and we need to protect it and preserve
00:13it.
00:13Now the state government has announced plans for a parliamentary inquiry to look deeper
00:19into the sale of the 22,000 hectare site.
00:22And ensure that we can get to the bottom of exactly the process, but also to ensure that
00:29such a process is improved and never happens again.
00:34The property had been for sale on and off since 2018.
00:38A $142 million deal was approved in July after vetting by the Foreign Investment Review Board
00:45and approval from the Federal Treasurer.
00:48The new owners plan to convert much of it into a pine plantation, with the Australian government
00:53owned Clean Energy Finance Corporation, investing nearly $70 million into the project.
00:59We can't be giving away good, productive Tasmanian farmland for the sake of growing carbon credits.
01:06A federal government spokesperson says the sale will support around 190 jobs.
01:11And that the state government's move will be destructive for investor confidence.
01:16It says the advice was clear that Rushy Lagoon was not classified as prime agricultural land.
01:22Premier Jeremy Rockliffe says the government will move to establish the inquiry this week.
01:27We'll be making our decisions in the caucus, but we understand the importance of understanding
01:31particularly the jobs and the value-add processing.
01:35In a statement, new owners, the Tasmanian Natural Asset Trust says it welcomes the opportunity
01:40to explain the investment and rationale behind it.
01:43It says it's been holding meetings to answer any community questions, and that its plans will
01:48maximise the economic and environmental potential of the site.
01:52corporations spend very well last year's process and the development of the Sounds makes
01:55You
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