Bass Strait ‘most expensive stretch of water in the world’

Bass Strait is the most expensive stretch of water in the world. That’s what farmers, transporters and shipping experts told us in Longford today.

We heard that it’s cheaper to ship something from Tassie to Spain than it is to ship something from Tassie to Sydney. If that’s not evidence of a system that’s not working, I don’t know what is.

The Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme isn’t fit-for-purpose anymore. You wouldn’t keep your family budget the same for 20 years without factoring in rising costs. So why does the Government expect businesses to do that when it comes to this scheme?

Residents of Flinders Island are especially affected. Freight costs are sky high, so groceries, supplies and housing are sky high. It’s a significant barrier to attracting people to live and work on Flinders.

Tasmanians have been calling for change for years. They’ve finally had their voices heard because of this inquiry. It’s time for this scheme to get a makeover and help Tassie businesses the way it’s supposed to.