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Tassie ferries forced to raise prices
Increasing fuel costs have forced a fare rise for Tasmania’s two Melbourne to Devonport ferries.
Passenger fares on the Spirit of Tasmania I and II will rise by $15 from July 1.
The cost of transporting a standard vehicle less than 2m wide will rise $10 to $69.
Peter Simmons, chief executive of the ferries’ government-owned operator TT-Line, said the company had taken “every action possible” to reduce its operating costs but could not continue to absorb the increasing fuel costs.
The move comes just three days after the government announced its decision to axe its troubled Sydney to Devonport ferry service.
Meanwhile, Tasmainia’s political parties are debating the state of the economy in light of recently released employment figures.
Australian Bureau of Statistics labour force statistics released yesterday show unemployment was up in Tasmania to 6.7 per cent (from 6.4 per cent).
The State’s Economic Development Minister, Bryan Green, said Tasmania remained in good shape for future jobs growth despite figures today showing a rise in unemployment.
“Our policies of deregulating shop trading hours, delivering on major infrastructure projects such as natural gas and Basslink, increasing visitor numbers, clearing debt and encouraging private investment in the state have been clearly well received and provide a sound basis for confidence in the jobs outlook,” he said.
Opposition parties today warned Tasmania was being left behind as Australia’s economy boomed.
Opposition Treasury spokesman Brett Whiteley said the results were the latest in a series of indicators pointing to a softening in the Tasmanian economy.
“The state government needs to identify ways of creating employment, instead of creating an environment in which unemployment is increasing,” he said.
Tasmanian Greens Senator Christine Milne said Labor’s refusal to invest in a “clean, green and clever Tasmania” was destroying jobs.
“The Australian economy is booming but the Tasmanian economy is being left behind,” she said.
Graham Muldoon
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