Hemp Taskforce Recommendations Overlooked in DPI Updates

The NSW Hemp Industry Taskforce’s 2024 recommendations aimed to modernise and strengthen the state’s hemp sector by promoting innovation, flexibility, and clearer regulation for growers. However, after reviewing the Department of Primary Industries’ (DPI) updated hemp framework and Licence Manual released in September 2025, Taskforce member Crystal White, Director of Northern Rivers Hemp, found that many of these key recommendations have not been implemented.

While the Taskforce proposed a more enabling and forward-thinking approach, the new framework continues to focus largely on compliance and enforcement. A clear example is the missed opportunity to introduce a licence category for environmental remediation. This reform would have recognised hemp’s ability to improve soil health, capture carbon, and support sustainable land rehabilitation. Despite its environmental and economic potential, the initiative was not included in the new framework.

Crystal has since contacted Jeremy Buckingham MLC, who has shown ongoing support for hemp industry reform, and expects he will raise the matter with Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty for further consideration. The comparison report shows that many of the Taskforce’s practical, industry-driven reforms- such as flexibility for crop testing, streamlined licensing, and recognition of new hemp applications—remain unaddressed.

“A more collaborative and forward-thinking approach is needed if we want to see the NSW hemp industry reach its full potential,” Crystal said.

iHemp NSW Privacy Policy

IHemp NSW is committed to promoting the hemp industry in New South Wales by providing support and networking for hemp growers, hemp processors and other interested parties. We respect your privacy and this policy outlines our ongoing obligations to you in respect of how we manage your Personal Information.

We have adopted the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) contained in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (the Privacy Act). The NPPs govern the way in which we collect, use, disclose, store, secure and dispose of your Personal Information.

A copy of the Australian Privacy Principles may be obtained from the website of The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at www.oaic.gov.au

What is Personal Information and why do we collect it?

Personal Information is information or an opinion that identifies an individual. Examples of Personal Information we collect include: names, addresses, email addresses, phone and facsimile numbers.

This Personal Information is obtained in many ways including correspondence, by telephone and facsimile, by email, via our website, from your website, from media and publications, from other publicly available sources and from website cookies. We cannot guarantee website links or policy of authorised third parties.

We collect your Personal Information for the primary purpose of providing our services to you or where you have agreed sharing it with other parties. We may also use your Personal Information for secondary purposes closely related to the primary purpose, in circumstances where you would reasonably expect such use or disclosure. You may unsubscribe from our mailing lists at any time by selecting “unsubscribe” or you may request that we remove any website correspondence collected via our Contact form.

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Where reasonable and practicable to do so, we will collect your Personal Information only from you. However, in some circumstances we may be provided with information by third parties. In such a case we will take reasonable steps to ensure that you are made aware of the information provided to us by the third party.

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Your Personal Information may be disclosed in a number of circumstances including the following:

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Policy Updates

This Policy may change from time to time and is available on our website.

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If you have any queries or complaints about our Privacy Policy please contact us at: info@ihempnsw.org.au