Julie Collins (Franklin, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Regional Development and Local Government) Share this | Hansard source

I have some questions in relation to a few projects in my home state of Tasmania that I want to talk about. The government ministers would be aware that the government has announced changes to the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme. There are going to be two rates for things going across the strait: one for international shipping and one for domestic shipping. I am interested in how the differential between the two pricing structures will work for producers in the state who are trying to get produce out. People are concerned about red tape and about having to apply to the two different programs.

It has also been raised with me that the government has said there will be a six-month limit on applications for TFES under the new program. I understand that the government is going round and doing some consultations in Tasmania about how the program will work. Given it is supposed to start next year, I am keen to understand when the government intends to have a decision on how this will work. I am also keen to know whether or not it is true that the government is considering limiting applications to be made within six months, because I am told that a lot of the smaller exporters are very concerned that they might not be able to get their claims through within the six months. They are saying that at the moment it does sometimes take a bit longer for them because of the paperwork and they are concerned that if there is going to be two lots of paper work, then the red tape will mean it will take longer and they are not going to be able to meet the time frame. I am interested to see whether the government is actually going in imposing tighter time frames on applications as well as where the government is going in terms of the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme changes. I am also keen to understand where the government got the differential figure from for the different containers. I understand that it is about $850 per domestic container but they are talking about $700 for international, so I am interested to know why there is that differential and how that came about.

I am also wondering if the ministers can answer some questions about the Cadbury money, or if they could get an answer from department officials. People will remember the $16 million for the Cadbury proposal in Tasmania. We were initially told it was in the employment department, then we were told it was in regional development and then we were told it had ended up in tourism area of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. It has been recorded as a saving under the tourism budget this year, and we are told that it still exists somewhere in somebody's budget in the government. So my question to the ministers is: do you have the $16 million? I have asked this a few times—I have asked several departments if they have the $16 million—and at this stage I am beginning to think that it does not exist. We have asked several departments if they have the $16 million, and which projects the $16 million, which we have been guaranteed will remain in Tasmania, is going to fund and which department or agency it might be in. It would be very useful to know because Tasmanians are very anxious about this money. People will be aware that unemployment in my home state is still very high; it has a seven in front of it. We have now had three months of unemployment figures going up and so Tasmanians are concerned about this money. We have heard Cadbury announce it will be sacking workers in Tasmania, so there is a great need for that money to remain in the state.

I also have some questions around Hobart Airport. Ministers will be aware that Hobart Airport sought some funding for a runway extension—$38 million from the federal government and $2 million from the airport owners. They have recently announced a terminal upgrade of around another $30 million, and I understand the government has only provided about $3 million to date for the planning to get the business case ready. I would appreciate hearing from the government how much in each year of funding there is for the Hobart Airport runway extension. I want to make to make sure that the money is in the budget going forward, because this project has been supported by everybody in the state, and we want to make sure that this extension occurs.

I also want to raise an issue that has been raised with me by the two councils in Tasmania that have airports in them, and that is about rates-equivalent payments from airports to local government. I understand they are not the only local governments in the country that have raised this issue with the minister, and I understand some of them have actually tried to seek a meeting with the minister and have met with the minister's staff or department officials but have not been able to see the minister about it. My question is: has that occurred yet? What, if anything, can the government do in terms of trying to assist councils with their negotiations with the airports to try and recover some of this funding? For some of the councils, I understand, it is quite substantial. I genuinely ask these things about my home state, in the interests of Tasmania, and I hope that I do get an answer.

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