[Greens-Media] Tas Greens_Minister Fails Flinders Island Farmers_K Booth MP

[greens at parliament.tas.gov.au]

THOUSANDS OF STOCK STILL STRANDED ON FLINDERS ISLAND

Infrastructure Minister Fails Flinders' Farmers
 
Kim Booth MP
Greens Shadow Primary Industries Spokesperson

Wednesday, 15 October 2008
Contact: State Parliamentary Offices of the Tasmanian Greens, (03) 6233
8300

www.tas.greens.org.au


The Tasmanian Greens today criticised the Bartlett Government after it
voted down the Greens' attempt to establish a Parliamentary inquiry into
the appalling situation facing Flinders Island farmers, who currently
have over 2500 cattle and large numbers of sheep awaiting transportation
off the Island due to drought, but who cannot access adequate stock
transport capacity on the government-subsidised shipping run.

Greens Shadow Primary Industries spokesperson Kim Booth MP said that
Minister Sturges' reliance upon an Independent Review of the contract
that may not occur until 2011, is yet another example of the government
refusing to tackle critical issues head on, and will do nothing to
address the drought influenced circumstances currently faced by the
Flinders Island community.  

Kim Booth MP welcomed the Liberal Opposition's support for his call for
a Parliamentary inquiry into the Flinders Island shipping problems, as
well as to explore potential solutions.

"Flinders Island is currently facing a drought and farmers are trying to
take the responsible step of reducing stock numbers on their properties
until the rains return, but the lack of a reliable shipping service has
now led directly to thousands of animals being stranded on Flinders at
the mercy of a government-subsidised contract that may no longer be
sufficient to meet the needs of the community," Mr Booth said.

"When I first raised these problems with the government in September,
there were approximately 1100 head of cattle and 500 sheep land-locked
on the Island following Southern Shipping's purpose built stock carrier
being out of commission, but in the meantime, while some stock has been
able to be moved there are now over 3300 head of cattle and 5500 head of
sheep that desperately need to be moved."

"No wonder the community are frustrated that the stock carrier has gone
to King Island earlier this week, and from there will be then travelling
to Eden, whilst their stock remain stranded on a drought-affected
island."

"Why should Flinders Island farmers bust a gut raising high-quality
livestock, only to see those same stock lose condition while awaiting
government-subsidised transportation, and at the same time have to watch
their drought-affected land become damaged?" 

"Given that this shipping service contract is subsidised by the
Tasmanian taxpayer, the Bartlett government has a responsibility to
ensure that it is meeting all requirements, and it begs the question as
to why the government would not want to investigate whether its public
subsidies are well spent?"

"Premier Bartlett and Minister Sturges wilfully ignored these problems
when I first raised them in September this year [1], and now they are
denying that the problems even exist by opposing and defeating my call
for an inquiry, simply for the sake of opposing the Greens, it would
seem," concluded Mr Booth.
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Reference: [1] "Flinders Livestock Stranded: Government Must Get
Involved to Leave Reliable Shipping Licences," Greens Media Release, 24
Sep 2008, http://tas.greens.org.au/News/view_MR.php?ActionID=3289

"Flinders Shipping Link Service Inquiry Call: Government Has
Responsibility for $200,000-Plus Contract," Greens Media Release, 25 Sep
2008, http://tas.greens.org.au/News/view_MR.php?ActionID=3295 

Text of the Greens' Motion to Establish a Parliamentary Inquiry into
Flinders Island Shipping Services:

1. That a Joint Select Committee be appointed to inquire into and report
upon: 

(a) sea transport connections between Flinders Island, the Furneaux
Group and Tasmanian and Victorian ports;

(b) all matters surrounding the granting and performance of the current
contract between DIER and Southern Shipping Company Pty Ltd;

(c) the performance of the agency with regard to the administration and
compliance with the contract;

(d) the suitability of the contract to deliver appropriate transport
services to the communities of the Flinders Island and Furneaux Group;

(e) the capacity and suitability of the Southern Shipping Company Pty
Ltd to maintain and operate the service;

(f) the economic effect on the islands' economy of the current
arrangements; and

(g) changes to the arrangements as a result of evidence including, but
not limited to, the cancellation of the current arrangements and
replacement with an alternative operator or a government service; and

(h)   other matters incidental thereto.

2. The Joint Select Committee shall have power to send for persons,
papers and records and have leave to meet during any adjournment
exceeding fourteen days and to adjourn from place to place.

3. The Joint Select Committee shall report by 20 November next.

4. The number of members to serve on the Committee on the part of the
House be three.




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