Labor spent three years sitting around the Cabinet table arguing and doing nothing following the loss of Tasmania’s international shipping service, now they have the hide to criticise us for actually doing something to address the problem.
The fact is, the Liberal Government has taken strong and decisive action to reintroduce an international shipping service from Tasmania.
As a result, for the first time in many years, both major Bass Strait commercial shippers have announced plans for new and bigger freight ships. This is real action.
I am confident that the capacity provided by the three companies across Bass Strait will fully service the seasonal produce freight market.
Labor’s old ‘plan’ (that they couldn’t agree on) was to smash the private Bass Strait freight market and load hundreds of millions of dollars of new debt and deficit onto the Tasmanian taxpayer.
Is that still their policy?
Let’s not forget, it was under Labor’s watch that Tasmania lost its only direct international shipping link, causing job loss and increased freight costs.
It might be a New Year, but it is the same old Labor: no alternative policy or plan, except to carp from the sidelines.
Rene Hidding, Minister for Infrastructure
