Slogans “people first’ and “Jobs and growth” really need to matter this time

Slogans “people first’ and “Jobs and growth” really need to matter this time!, Peter Brohier, Convener of National Sea Highway groups, said in Melbourne today.

“If both political leaders aim to put real meaning into their slogans “jobs and growth” and “people first” they should restore the Bass Strait passenger and vehicle equalization scheme, ’BSPVES’ to meet its original purpose.

Over the last two decades, the BSPVES has been modified by Canberra diminishing its potential as the number one driver of the whole Tasmania economy. The BSPVES should be redirected to properly connect Tasmania with a comprehensive national sea highway link. Low promotional fares from time to time do not meet this Commonwealth obligation.

Bass Strait was described by the Coalition in 1996, and still is “the most serious impediment to the growth of population, investment and jobs for Tasmania“. This barrier can be removed almost overnight by both political parties retargeting BSPVES uncapped federal funding to that end. Bass Strait is part of an inter capital route costing billions. This is not an obligation for Tasmania or its shipping line.

The BSPVES was part of a raft of measures to allow Tasmanians all year A to B travel using ferries at highway equivalent cost and encourage many to stay in Tasmania with cheap, all- year consistently priced access to the rest of Australia.

Instead, the BSPVES, as presently configured and monitored, mainly facilitates driving holidays for visitors that require an “end to end travel experience”- not travel by the thousands that require A to B travel.
This means the scheme, as currently directed, mainly facilitates the Tasmanian leisure industry, about a 7% contributor of Gross Tasmanian State Product ‘GTSP’. It cannot drive a whole broad based state economy as would an equalized sea highway, using ferries.

Restoring the BSPVES would give the major stakeholders, representing together the generators of about 70% of GTSP, including education, health, building, retail, transport, and ports and many more ‘highway equivalent’ access to thousands of people at Tasmania’s doorstep.

It will quickly build population, investment and jobs and create a critical mass across many activities in Tasmania and the rest of south eastern Australia.

If both parties fix the BSPVES they will give real meaning to their slogans. If they do not, they will destroy faith in our democratic process by not effectively delivering what was the most important core promise to the Apple Isle in decades.

Fixing Bass Strait is still as relevant today as it was twenty years ago. As with the interstate road links it connects, the Bass Strait sea highway link should be maintained in perpetuity. Redirecting the BSVES within a few years of its introduction to meet far more limited objectives makes no economic or social sense whatsoever.

For people, jobs and growth – it’s about effectively using the 70% sector, not just the 7% one, and delivering interstate transport equity for both people and vehicles.”

OFFICE OF THE CONVENER OF NATIONAL SEA HIGHWAY GROUPS
143 Kooyong Road, Nth Caulfield VIC 3161
Peter Brohier, Convener of National Sea Highway groups