Jess Teesdale (Bass, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No federal government in living memory has done more than the Albanese Labor government to support and strengthen Tasmania. We've invested $3.8 billion for the Marinus Link project to boost renewable energy transmission on both sides of Bass Strait, lifting Tassie internet speeds along the way. We're boosting the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme by 25 per cent over two years. This means Tasmanian businesses and workers are not penalised by distance. We've defended Tassie jobs and industry from short-term threats to viability and backed in a low-carbon future. That includes $24 million to electrify and modernise the Boyer paper mill, the oldest still in operation anywhere in Australia. This secures 300 jobs directly and a further 1,000 jobs down the supply chain.

The government has committed $81.6 million to the Tasmanian Freight Rail Revitalisation scheme to better deliver statewide freight capacity and firm up local freight industry supply chains. We've invested in the Nyrstar zinc smelter in Hobart. But I know that these are uncertain times for people in my electorate—for the workers at both Liberty Bell Bay and Bell Bay Aluminium and their families, connected local businesses and our broader community. That's why I'm working very closely with Senator Ayres to help both the Liberty Bell Bay manganese smelter and the Bell Bay Aluminium facility to navigate these choppy waters. The truth is that Tasmanians and mainlanders are stronger when we're working together to secure the future.