Liberal Government must avoid discrimination and give $5.3M to scuttle Tobruk, Lambie tells PM

Three other states have received each on average – over $5M from the Commonwealth Government to scuttle de-commissioned naval ships – we deserve the same deal JLN Independent Senator for Tasmania Jacqui Lambie has said.

“I wrote to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull yesterday, (see attached) highlighting the importance of the HMAS Tobruk for Tasmanian tourism, and I asked him to take necessary action and instruct Defence Minister Marise Payne to reverse her Department’s recent decision to not attach funding to the relocation and scuttling of ex-naval vessels,” Senator Lambie said.

“Scuttling the HMAS Tobruk in Skeleton Bay on the East Coast of Tasmania, would create hundreds of jobs, attract 1000s of divers to our state, and inject at least $5 million a year into the local economy. This is a hand-up for Tasmania – not a hand-out.

“The precedent of Commonwealth support has already been set, with three examples of almost $16 million invested by the Commonwealth into the relocation and scuttling of ex-naval vessels in Queensland, Victoria, and New South Wales,” Senator Lambie said.

“Tasmania is the only state that does not enjoy the honour, economic, social, and educational benefits of having an ex-naval vessel resting in its waters. Prime Minister Turnbull should not discriminate against Tasmania, which deserves the same opportunities and investment as other states when it comes to Commonwealth funding for the relocation and scuttling of the HMAS Tobruk,” Senator Lambie said.

“The Commonwealth have a responsibility to ensure that any naval ship is properly disposed of once the Navy has finished with it. The Commonwealth commissioned the ship in the first place, they have a duty to make sure the ship is safely disposed of at the end of its service. Even if the ship is cut up for scrap – it will still cost the tax payers millions of dollars.” Senator Lambie said.

“They can’t deny that responsibility in the vain hope the state government will pick up their slack. As a diving site, the HMAS Tobruk will continue to serve in the national interest – but this time as a means to attract new wealth and business to Tasmanian communities,” Senator Lambie said.
Rob Messenger for Senator Jacqui Lambie Senator for Tasmania