www.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today called on Infrastructure Minister Graeme Sturges to guarantee that any contingency plan to restore a shipping service to Flinders island, must include provision for the removal of farmers’ stock from the island.
Greens Member for Bass, Kim Booth MP, said that it is his understanding that Minister Sturges is looking at utilising a Ports Tasmania barge as an interim measure, but raised concerns that such a vessel will not be capable of transporting the cattle that farmers are waiting to ship out.
“Minister Sturges must guarantee that his contingency shipping plan for Flinders, King and Cape Barron islands will include the capacity to ship stock, and not just perishables and other items,” Mr Booth said.
“Island farmers have already paid a heavy price with losses estimated at around $1.6 million directly caused by transport problems.”
“Farmers are now again heading into that critical time to get cattle and sheep off the island, whilst in peak condition and before feed dries up on the Island again.”
“Should Mr Sturges be looking at bringing in the Ports pile driving barge, then he needs to acknowledge that such a vessel will only be able to transport perishables and other items, but will not be suitable for the transportation of cattle.”
“Reliance on just barging perishables to and fro the islands can only be considered a desperate and short term option, and one that does not relieve the pressure that many farmers have been under over these last few months trying to move their stock.”
“It is not good enough for Minister Sturges to wring his hands, and say that this is a difficult situation to resolve, as he has brought this situation down on himself by ignoring this serious problem for the last twelve months and has a direct and clear responsibility to provide a continuous and suitable service.”
Kim Booth MP Greens Member for Bass
