ADMISSION OF SHIPPING CONTRACT BREACH HIGHLIGHTS NEED FOR LONG-TERM SOLUTION

www.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today demanded answers and action over the disastrous Southern Shipping contract debacle which is now damaging the economies of Flinders, King, Cape Barren Islands and all of the Furneaux group communities.

After over 12 months of community outrage and parliamentary pressure by the Greens, Minister Sturges finally admitted that there was a breach of contract between the government and Southern Shipping.

Greens Member for Bass, Kim Booth MP, said that Minister Sturges must now detail what the breaches are, when they occurred, and the government’s immediate and long-term solution to secure a safe and reliable shipping service to the islands.

“The Minister’s explanation that it is Southern Shipping’s failure to meet the requirement of a weekly sailing has suddenly constituted a breach, is all well and good, but it is our understanding that this failure has not only occurred this week, yet the minister has continually defended his lack of action over the last twelve months on the grounds that no breach of the contract has occurred,” Mr Booth said.

“During the no confidence motion brought on by the Tasmanian Greens into the Minister’s handling of the shipping and other issues yesterday morning, Mr Sturges claimed that the contract had not been broken, yet by the afternoon apparently it had.”

“Talk about being behind the eight-ball, and announcing what people already knew!”

“The Minster must now explain what happened in those few hours, what the breach is, when did it occur and whether it has occurred before, and what is the government’s plans now to deal with the contract.”

“The Bartlett government needs to detail to the island communities whether they are going to seek better and alternative transport opportunities, or whether they are just going to resort to belated posturing but not force any changes or renegotiations with Southern Shipping.”
Kim Booth MP Greens Member for Bass