Hidding doing nothing for fresh freight

The Liberal Government’s own freight strategy warns that getting fresh freight out of Tasmania this summer will be a “significant challenge” but does not propose any solutions.

The blunt admission comes despite the Minister for Infrastructure, Rene Hidding’s repeated denials that there are capacity constraints on Bass Strait. *

Labor Leader Bryan Green said the Liberal Government’s hands-off approach to freight is holding back Tasmania’s booming agricultural and aquaculture sectors.

“Labor invested millions in irrigation to turbo-charge agriculture and aquaculture,” Mr Green said.

“The Liberals are trying to claim credit for the results but they are doing nothing to assist producers to get their products to market.

“For 18 months Rene Hidding has been denying there is even a capacity problem on Bass Strait.

“Now the only solution in his much trumpeted freight strategy is to wait at least another year for a new private sector service.

“Producers are telling us they cannot wait that long. Some are even holding off investment as a result of the uncertainty.

“Within the next month we are going have a bumper cherry crop, fresh berries, salmon, seafood, dairy and beef all competing for space on the Spirit of Tasmania ferries.

“Labor is extremely concerned that we are going to see a situation where freight is stranded on the wharf.”

* “I am confident that the capacity provided by the three companies across Bass Strait will fully service the seasonal produce freight market,” Rene Hidding, The Examiner Jan. 6, 2015

* “The most recent 2015 summer season saw significant challenges in ensuring that fresh and perishable cargo volumes and loads left the island at the time required by producers to meet the market.” Draft Tasmanian Integrated Freight Strategy

* “While the 2016 summer season is likely to present a significant challenge in meeting demand for Bass Strait services, the arrival of the first of a number of planned, new freight ships for Bass Strait will ensure capacity meets increasing demand from late 2016 onwards.” Draft Tasmanian Integrated Freight Strategy
Bryan Green MP Labor Leader