HAS SOUTHERN SHIPPING ALREADY BREACHED CONTRACT?

Minister Sturges Should Hang his Head in Shame

The Tasmanian Greens today called on Infratsructure Minister Graeme Sturges to reveal whether he now regrets voting against the Greens’ motion in 2008 to launch a Parliamentary investigation into deficiencies with the shipping service to Flinders Island, and whether he will now apologise for his failure to protect the Flinders’ community from the shipping fiasco that is now strangling the Island’s economy.

Greens Member for Bass, Kim Booth MP, said Graeme Sturges should be embarrassed and ashamed of letting down the Flinders community in this way, and called on the Ministewr to reveal whether he has any viable long-term Plan B for the possibility, or likelihood, that the curent contract will be terminated.

Mr Booth also called on Minister Sturges to reveal whether the shipping contract had already been breached by the use of overweight log-loaders on the Southern Condor after Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST) ordered that this not occur, and whether the Australian Maritime and Safety Authority (AMSA) order on the Matthew Flinders, to slip the vessel before 31 October for repairs, will also breach the contract if not complied with.

“The Minister and his majority Bartlett Government voted against the Greens’ when we tried to get to the bottom of this fiasco in 2008, and he must now apologise to the people of Flinders Island for placing petty politics ahead of the needs of their community,” said Mr Booth.

“We know that logs have been loaded onto the Condor by over-weight log-loaders after MAST ordered that this not occur, and this is a clear breach of Section 6.1 (c) of the shipping contract, and if the Matthew Flinders is not slipped before 31 October, Section 6.1 (a) will also be breached.”

“Minister Sturges must apologise to the people of Flinders and the wider Furneaux community, make a decision about the continuation of the current contract, and reveal a viable Plan B for sustainable shipping services to the Island communities in future, said Mr Booth.

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Text of Greens’ Motion on Flinders Island shipping issues, and a record of the vote:

Wednesday 15 October 2008, part two:

[4.51 p.m.]

Mr BOOTH (Bass – Motion) – Mr Speaker, I move –

That –

(1) A Joint Select Committee be appointed to inquire into and report upon:

(a) sea transport connections between Flinders Island, the Furneaux Group and Tasmanian and Victorian ports;

(b) all matters surrounding the granting and performance of the current contract between Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources and Southern Shipping Company Pty Ltd;

(d) the suitability of the contract to deliver appropriate transport services to the communities of the Flinders Island and Furneaux Group;

(e) the capacity and suitability of the Southern Shipping Company Pty Ltd to maintain and operate the service;

(f) the effect on the islands’ economy of the current arrangements;

(g) changes to the arrangements as a result of evidence including, but not limited to, the cancellation of the current arrangements and replacement with an alternative operator or a government service; and

(h) other matters incidental thereto.

(2) The Joint Select Committee shall have power to send for persons, papers and records and have leave to meet during any adjournment exceeding 14 days and to adjourn from place to place.

(3) The Joint Select Committee shall report by 20 November next.

(4) The number of members to serve on the committee on the part of the House be three.

…

AYES 10
NOES 12

Mr Booth

Mr Gutwein

Mr Hidding

Mr Will Hodgman

Mr McKim

Mr Morris (Teller)

Mrs Napier

Ms O’Connor

Mr Rockliff

Mr Whiteley

Mr Bartlett

Mr Butler (Teller)

Mrs Butler

Mr Cox

Ms Giddings

Mr Green

Mr Kons

Mr Llewellyn

Ms O’Byrne

Mr Polley

Ms Singh

Mr Sturges

[Available at: http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/
HansardHouse/isysquery/
f220b413-f21b-4d96-840b-8119af473753/2/doc/ ]
Kim Booth MP Greens Member for Bass