FLINDERS SHIPPING SINKING SLOWLY

As Minister Fails To Deny Damage to Island Economy

The Tasmanian Greens today called on Infrastructure Minister Graeme Sturges to apologise for the damage that his handling of the Flinders Island shipping fiasco has caused to the Flinders’ economy, after the Minister today failed to deny that economic damage is occurring when questioned directly on the issue in Parliament.

Greens member for Bass, Kim Booth MP, said he also gave the Infrastructure Minister an opportunity to apologise to farmer Peter Scollard for abusing him at an RSL Christmas function last year, after Mr Scollard attempted to raise the Flinders Island shipping issue with the Minister, but that the Minister declined the opportunity.

Mr Booth also queried whether Minister Sturges has now started an anger management course, and whether his constituents will feel safe to approach him with issues in the future.

“While answering a direct question from myself regarding the damage to the Flinders’ economy, Minister Sturges failed to deny the fact, and he should now come out and publicly apologise to the Flinders’ community for the damage that his mis-handling of their shipping contract has already caused,” said Mr Booth.

“The Greens first raised this issue in September last year and attempted to set up an inquiry into the shipping service contract [1], but the Bartlett Government used its majority in Parliament to vote our inquiry down, and the Infrastructure Minister has since done nothing about the problems with the shipping service.”

“When questioned today, the Minister failed to deny that Flinders’ shipping service has degenerated into a farce, with sailings being regularly delayed, freight damaged, livestock injured, ASIC making inquiries, as well as a number of court cases and fair work investigations.”

“Minister Sturges was also given the opportunity, which he once again squibbed, to apologise to Flinders Island farmer Peter Scollard who was roundly abused by the Minister when he raised the issue of Flinders’ shipping at an RSL Christmas function in December last year.”

“Minister Sturges has now apparently accepted that the Islands’ economy is being damaged as a direct result of the inadequate contract arrangements that the Bartlett government made, and that he has overseen as Infrastructure Minister.”

“The Minister’s handling of the Flinders Island shipping contract has left a sour taste in the mouths of those on the Island, and his repeated failure to apologise for foully abusing a Flinders’ farmer over this very issue is appalling.”

“Graeme Sturges must come out and publicly apologise for his mis-handling of the Flinders Island shipping contract, his abuse of a local farmer for raising the issue in December last year, and the damage that has been done to the Flinders’ economy due to the Minister’s incompetence,” said Mr Booth.
Reference:

[1] “FLINDERS SHIPPING LINK SERVICE INQUIRY CALL: Government Has Responsibility For $200,000 Plus Contract,” Kim Booth MP, 25th September 2008,
http://tas.greens.org.au/News/view_MR.php?ActionID=3295
Kim Booth MP Greens Member for Bass