Labor-Liberal hypocrisy over Bass Strait

The Independent Member for Denison, Andrew Wilkie, expressed his disappointment at the Labor and Liberal parties blocking debate in the Federal Parliament on enhancing the Bass Strait Freight Equalisation Scheme.

Mr Wilkie had tabled a motion calling for a significant expansion of the Scheme, but the House of Representatives Selection Committee released a report today showing that the motion will not be debated.

Mr Wilkie said Labor and Liberal blocking debate on freight equalisation made a mockery of their previous statements on the matter.

“The need to significantly boost the Bass Strait Freight Equalisation Scheme is self-evident,” Mr Wilkie said.

“The cost of getting people, vehicles and freight to and from Tasmania is the single most significant brake on the state’s economy.

“Investing a relatively modest amount of additional public funding to reduce this cost to a tolerable level would be one of the easiest and most affordable ways to turn around our struggling economy.

“Labor and Liberal together control the Selection Committee and had it in their power to get this motion before the House of Representatives.

“That the Labor and Liberal parties would not even allow a debate about the issue is the smoking gun that shows both parties are all talk when it comes to Bass Strait.”

Download a copy of the motion:

Bass_Strait_Freight_Equalisation_motion.pdf

• Earlier on Tasmanian Times: Peter Brohier: The Question of Bass Strait