The Tasmanian Liberals are the strongest supporters of our regional communities, and our strong Plan will secure the Island’s future and ensure the community can continue to thrive.

This will add to our strong record of supporting the King Island community and its plans for economic growth and job creation through its high-value brand, while showcasing its unique island attractions as a key tourist destination.

King Island flights

A re-elected majority Gutwein Liberal Government will extend the underwritten direct flights between Hobart and King Island until the end of March next year.

Tasmanians have responded in droves since the Liberal Government underwrote a new service for new regular passenger flights between Hobart and the two Bass Strait Islands last year, with a significant increase in visitation that has been fantastic for local businesses and the King Island economy.

We want to ensure these benefits can continue and if we are re-elected, we will underwrite the extension of the flights until the end of March next year, supporting King Island through the quieter winter period and enabling operators to be prepared for a busy spring and summer.

This represents a further commitment of around $1 million, with the ultimate goal of these services becoming commercially sustainable.

King Island flights have carried well over 1,200 passengers since their inception, while also providing King Island residents with greater options to access healthcare and other services in Hobart, and this extension is great news for everyone on the Island.

Sharp Airlines has also based an aircraft and crew in Hobart to operate these flights, ensuring the economic benefits spread even further across the State.

And to further promote King Island and increase its tourism potential, we are investing $345,000 on a new Golf Tourism marketing campaign, targeting golfers to test their abilities at our world-class golf courses, including Cape Wickham and Ocean Dunes.

This will encourage even more people from around the country to stay on King Island and experience all the Island has to offer.

Full-time biosecurity officer

A re-elected majority Gutwein Liberal Government will provide $350,000 over four years to strengthen biosecurity on King Island.

Protecting our relative pest and disease-free status and reputation of King Island as a provider of premium produce is a vital part to growing production and profitability for our farmers.

This commitment will ensure all biosecurity positions on the Island are made full-time and permanent, giving the Island greater certainty and enhancing its reputation as a premium destination.

It will assist with strategies to tackle weeds, pests and other issues affecting agricultural production and local biosecurity, and coordinate passenger arrivals to uphold our strong borders.

Infrastructure improvements

We will invest in a range of infrastructure improvements on the Island, including:

• A $450,000 investment to complete work at the RSL park and skate park and improve footpaths in Currie;
• Contribute $250,000 towards the Council’s ongoing maintenance of the iconic heritage-listed lighthouse at Currie; and
• Provide $33,000 for the replacement of the King Island community car, a key essential service for community health and wellbeing.

The King Island community will also benefit from our long-term strategic partnership with the Royal Flying Doctor Service that will lock in the service for the long-term, supporting primary health care on the Island.

And, we are also locking in a $1 million boost to improve telecommunications infrastructure on the Island, with an application currently under assessment through the Regional Connectivity Program.

If successful, this will deliver better mobile coverage and faster data speeds, ensuring King Islanders can access improved connectivity for health, business, tourism, emergency management, and education services.

Our plan will ensure King Island can continue to thrive and is an important part of our commitment to Secure Tasmania’s Future so that Tasmanians in all areas, including our Islands, can benefit.

The full policy is available here.