Tammy Tyrrell (Tasmania, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

Congratulations to Labor! They're patting themselves on the back for doing the bare minimum for Tassie farmers and producers. It's official: Tassie businesses can now get 25 per cent more money back on claims made under the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme. Don't get me wrong; it's a win. Twelve months ago, no-one in this chamber was talking about this broken scheme at all. I'm really proud that the Senate Select Committee on the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme has led to the first pay increase for Tassie businesses in years, but it doesn't even scratch the surface of fixing this completely broken system. A system set up to make things fairer for Tassie businesses is sending them backwards instead.

We know that changes are needed, but, instead of getting on with it, Labor wants to do another review. The funny thing about reviews is that they're not a promise to change anything. Labor doesn't have to act on any of the recommendations; all it will do is kick the can further down the road. We're in a cost-of-living crisis. Tasmanians need help now, not in three years time when there's another election Labor wants to win.

If Labor don't have any ideas, that's okay. I've put forward things that can be done right now to improve the scheme. The scheme needs to be faster, cheaper and easier to use. Payments need to get to businesses quicker, and the whole scheme should be modernised. Air freight should be included; it would be a game changer for King Island and Flinders Island. We need staff actually on the ground in Tasmania to help people use the system that is supposed to help them. The scheme should only sit under one government department, not two. Having two departments means less accountability and transparency. We can fix that. These changes could happen today if Labor wanted. It's time for real action on this freight scheme, not empty promises.