Eric Hutchinson (Lyons, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last week—and I think I speak on behalf of all Tasmanians—we welcomed the $200 million commitment to expand the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme to include all exports out of the state of Tasmania. It gives our state a level playing field for businesses to be able to compete with other parts of Australia. It will be of enormous benefit to manufacturers, farmers and exporters, more broadly, in our state.

Tasmanians want to be able to stand on our own two feet, and this is something I know my House of Representatives colleagues—the members for Bass and Braddon—and also my Senate colleagues have been fighting for for the last 18 months.

In terms of value for taxpayers' dollars, it is very important that we make sure that taxpayers are getting good value. That is why the repeal of the 2012 revitalising coastal shipping act, which was the fundamental reason why our state lost its only international shipping service in Tasmania, is critically important. It is about making sure that there are the right levels of competition on Bass Strait to make sure that taxpayers' dollars are being used effectively.

I would also mention the 700 per cent fee increase that the Victorian government has recently put on in the Port of Melbourne. This is completely unacceptable and is an absolute impost when 25 per cent of the freight is Tasmanian. (Time expired)