Media Release

Peter Gutwein MP
Liberal Member for Bass

Sunday 24th January 2010

What about Flinders Island, Mr Bartlett?

Yesterday’s announcement that the State Government has promised nearly $22 million of Government handouts to King Island demonstrates just how out of touch they are regarding the damage that has been done recently to the Flinders Island economy as a result of the shipping fiasco that hapless Minister Graeme Sturges has overseen.

While the King Island investment may be justified, it beggars belief that this announcement would be made whilst Flinders Island is still on its knees and uncertain about both the short and longer term future of shipping services.

At the very least the Government should have announced what its intentions are in relation to how it intends to manage the very critical next few weeks in relation to stock and freight movements off the island, and then importantly how it intends to structure any Government assistance into the future.

The State Liberals believe that an immediate audit should be undertaken regarding the numbers of stock that need carting off the island and the capacity of the two remaining vessels to carry this stock in a timely fashion. Once this is understood then decisions can be made about whether there is a requirement for another vessel to be found and placed on the run as well.

Furthermore, I am told that at this busy time on the island which will see around 30,000 sheep and 8000 cattle moved off the island, that there is a real need for someone to take on a strategic management role to ensure that stock and freight movements are as effective and efficient as possible. In the past the freight forwarder with Southern Shipping would have been in part responsible for this but as that role now no longer exists the State Government should assist the council to fill this role so that further disruption does not occur.

Then there needs to be a longer term strategic plan put into place and this must be developed with the Flinders Island Council. We believe that the Council must play a material role in both developing the plan and also its implementation moving forward.

To this end we have had discussions over the latter part of last year with the local council and have now written to the council to request a meeting with the Mayor and her council to finalise a robust workable plan for the island, and particularly the provision of shipping services to it.