In a spectacle of political back-patting and self-congratulation, Tasmania proudly unveiled its new $786 million Bridgewater Bridge earlier this week, hailed by both the Albanese and Rockliff Governments as a historic milestone and a transformative project.

Yet, barely had the last sausage sizzle been consumed and the last platitude been uttered before the shiny new infrastructure became the stage for a hooning incident, drawing the immediate ire of Felix Ellis, the Minister for Police over an incident that happened around 1.15am this morning.

This, of course, comes as a surprise to precisely no one familiar with the Tasmanian police’s long-standing, and frankly perplexing, approach to illegal street racing. While politicians waxed lyrical about world-class infrastructure and decades to come of improved connectivity, the reality for many Tasmanians is a law enforcement agency that appears to operate on a ‘not in my backyard, [NIMBY] but feel free to hoon in someone else’s yard’ policy.

Take the Huon Valley, for instance. For years, residents have endured the incessant roar of engines, the screech of tires and the piles of rubber fragments, particularly around Geeveston and the infamous concrete bridge near the Southwood Mill in Lonnavale.

Local police, however, have consistently turned a blind eye. One former Senior Sergeant, in a moment of candid (or perhaps simply resigned) honesty, was even quoted as preferring the hooning to occur out in the community rather than in downtown Huonville.

So, while the newly opened Bridgewater Bridge is being lauded as a symbol of Tasmania’s bright future, it appears to have instantly become just another stretch of asphalt for the same old problem.

The police’s swift condemnation of the incident on the new bridge rings hollow when juxtaposed with their historical inaction elsewhere. The increasingly frustrated tone from Tasmania Police regarding “selfish and reckless actions” would carry more weight if their frustration extended beyond the immediate vicinity of newly opened, high-profile projects.

It’s worth noting that in Tasmania, hooning offences carry significant penalties of up to 40 penalty units (currently $8080), imprisonment for up to six months, and vehicle confiscation. One can only imagine how quickly Minister Ellis can fill the coffers should he put in place the resources to police the hoons in the Huon Valley.

If the Minister for Police is truly serious about the consequences of hooning, then perhaps a more consistent and resourced approach is needed. Rather than waiting for a new, taxpayer-funded bridge to be defaced by tire marks, perhaps resources could be put in place to catch these hoons no matter where their dangerous antics unfold.

Because right now, the grand opening of the Bridgewater Bridge feels less like a step into a new era for Tasmania and more like a fresh coat of paint on an old, unresolved problem.

The “world-class infrastructure” deserves better, and more importantly, the long-suffering communities plagued by hooning deserve a police force that’s equally serious about enforcement, regardless of the postcode.

 

Tasmanian Times (TT) is a community-based news and current affairs service covering the island state of Tasmania. It exists to provide a diverse view of Tasmanian issues. TT creates and supports independent media content utilising the best of modern technologies and tried-and-true practices of public-interest journalism.

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