Andrew Wilkie (Denison, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, the cost of getting people, vehicles and freight in and out of Tasmania is a very significant brake on our economic development. The cost of Bass Strait is also one of the easiest problems to fix, making the current situation all the more frustrating. Prime Minister, will you commit to a single and effective cost equalisation scheme for Tasmania covering all vehicles, passengers and freight, including exports bound for international markets?

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do thank the member for Denison for his question. It is a very important subject.

On the freight equalisation scheme, let me remind the member that the Fraser government created it, the Howard government improved it and the current government will retain it and improve it. To that end, we are shortly going to announce a joint Productivity Commission-ACCC inquiry into improving the freight arrangements between Tasmania and the mainland and the wider world.

But the member is absolutely right: there have been considerable brakes on development in Tasmania. One brake on development in Tasmania was the Labor-Green government in Canberra, now gone. The other brake on development in Tasmania is the Labor-Green government in Hobart which, hopefully, will be gone after March of next year.

But there have been very serious economic issues in Tasmania. I regret to say that Tasmania has our nation's highest unemployment, it has our lowest wages and it has our lowest rate of educational attainment, and this is why the government has a plan for Tasmania. The centrepiece of the plan for Tasmania is $400 million to upgrade the Midland Highway, $38 million to upgrade the airport at Hobart—an initiative that I know had the strong support of the member for Denison—and $24 million dollars to create a world-class Antarctic research centre in Hobart. We are doing what is needed to restore the Tasmanian economy, because Tasmania needs to be an economy as well as just a national park.

That is what Tasmania needs, and the people of Tasmania understand that. That is why there was such a massive swing at the recent election, to give us—with a 13 per cent swing—a new member for Lyons, and with swings of almost the same magnitude new members for Bass and for Braddon. I say to the member for Denison: you work together with these three great new members and the four of you will do a very good job by the great state of Tasmania.

Andrew Wilkie (Denison, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There are no supplementary questions, member for Denison

Andrew Wilkie (Denison, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order, on relevance. I think it would be relevant—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister has finished his answer, I understand.

Andrew Wilkie (Denison, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I thought I jumped before the Prime Minister finished speaking, if you do not mind.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am afraid you didn't. Good try, member for Denison.