INDEPENDENT Murchison MLC Ruth Forrest has demanded the state government honour commitments made to King Island on shipping. Ms Forrest established and chaired the Legislative Council Government Administration Committee Inquiry into King Island Freight Services five years ago.
Five years later the inquiry report and recommendations to the government have not been adopted or have been changed and Ms Forrest said she was angry and wanted action from the government. Ms Forrest said she was willing to establish another inquiry into King Island shipping if necessary.
“The 2017 inquiry looked at the reliability, costs, service delivery and future shipping plans for King and Flinders Island,” she said. “A pressing issue was that the SeaRoad Mersey was coming to the end of its life and was about to be retired. “The government has an obligation under our processes and even in our budget to ensure that if a ship, couldn’t sail, for whatever reason, to make sure that a vessel can be secured to provide that service.
“I was looking at all of those mechanisms, but particularly what the future was for King Island shipping.” Ms Forrest said the committee found that freight was particularly expensive on King Island with no real explanation for some of those costs and there appeared to be pretty stark differences, even between King Island and Flinders Island. “That it really needed to be a triangulated service, that worked in both directions,” Ms Forrest said.
“This means directly linking King Island to and from mainland Australia and to and from mainland Tasmania. The inquiry recommended the government look at vessels which would be fit for purpose for Bass Strait and encouraged the government to consider a vessel, such as the modern, stable catamaran which could carry passengers, vehicles, the freight task, be able to handle livestock, and be a high-speed service. Ms Forrest said she was disappointed that the government did not really address the issues and inquiry recommendations and chose a cost saving purchase option and a vessel which was not really fit for purpose.
Ms Forrest is also disappointed that TasPorts/Bass Island Line decided to cut the direct link between King Island and mainland Australia despite the Inquiry findings and report recommendations. “The commitment made by the government all those years ago was to actually provide a triangular service. “TasPorts should be looking out for the ports not actually trying to run a shipping service as well. “We know it has run at a loss since it was established.
As a government business, they’re required to make sure they look after taxpayers’ money and wellbeing of Tasmanian’s financial interest. “But, it’s also a requirement to deliver a service that fits the needs of King Island. “When the committee released the inquiry report, the government of the day made a commitment to put in place an interim solution, which wasthe Bass Island Line and the purchased vessel John Duigan. Ms Forrest said it wasn’t to be a long-term solution.
“They were still expecting and would be actively seeking a private operator take on that route,” she said. “I’m not aware of any direct work that’s been done to try and attract and engage a private operator onto that route. “I think that the government does need to go back and look at those Forrest picks freight fight TasPorts interim solution, Bass Island Lines John Duigan at Grassy. commitments which were made making sure that there’s a private operator.
“Or if you have to have a government-run service through a government business enterprise. “It has to be done in such a way that meets the needs of the island, but also is financially viable.” The owner of Eastern Shipping, Warren Dick, who provides the island’s alterative shipping service with direct links to Port Welshpool in Victoria and to Tasmania, indicated that he’s “happy to talk with TasPorts”.
Ms Forrest said that she will be seeking transparency and requesting information and asking questions in parliament concerning Bass Island Line’s financials and about the supply and costs of the island’s fuel. “Questions do need to be asked about that,” she said.
“There is an opportunity within one of the committees that I chair called our Government Administration Committee to call TasPorts into that committee and to ask some direct questions about this,” Ms Forrest said. She was planning to spend a week on King Island, however due to Parliament’s changed sitting dates she cannot visit, but is hoping to spend time in September between Parliamentary sittings.
“If there’s other matters of concern related to this whole issue of shipping, freight costs, fuel and that sort of thing I’m really happy to hear from King Island and if they think a more thorough inquiry is needed I’m certainly happy to consider that route.”