The Tasmanian Greens today demanded that immediate action is taken by the Bartlett government to assess whether the terms of the Southern Shipping contract are being met, following breaking news that employees have gone on strike due to unpaid wages leaving the Mathew Flinders vessel stranded at Lady Barron Island, and to seek to terminate the contract if the terms are being breached.
Greens Member for Bass, Kim Booth MP, who has tried to get an inquiry held into the Southern Shipping contract last year, said that it was time the Minister stood up for the Bass Strait island communities, and Tasmanian workers, by saying enough is enough and reviewing the contract obligations.
“Infrastructure Minister Sturges must immediately assess the terms and conditions of the Southern Shipping contract, and if the service terms are not being met, then the government needs to start proceedings to terminate that contract. If the current poor service delivery is not grounds for termination then that is a serious indictment on the Labor government,” Mr Booth said.
“Only last week TasPorts closed its port facilities to this company due to unpaid fees, now Tasmanian workers are apparently being shafted over their wages and that dispute literally has ground the shipping service to a halt, leaving cattle in pens and nobody knowing whether to load them or not.”
“If the Bartlett government had voted for my call for an inquiry into this matter last year it could have been resolved by now, but the pattern of this government is to go into denial until a crisis situation forces something to happen.”
“It is because this service is contracted by the government that the Minister is responsible for ensuring that taxpayers get value for their money from Southern Shipping and this clearly is not the case.”
“Sever ties with Southern Shipping, and immediately start searching for an alternative operator, and guarantee to the Bass Strait island communities the time frame by which they can expect to receive a professional and reliable shipping service.”
“The Flinders and King island communities have put up with a lot from this unreliable service, and they deserve action from the Bartlett government, not more hand-wringing or empty promises.”
“What is it going to take before Infrastructure Minister Sturges takes action to guarantee a reliable and functional service to the Flinders and King island communities? This has gone on far too long and is hurting local communities and economies,” Mr Booth said.
Kim Booth MP Greens Member for Bass
