Only a Peter Dutton-led Coalition Government will turbo-charge the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme and back Tasmanian farmers and exporters.

Liberal candidate for Lyons, Susie Bower, said that only the Coalition has a plan to back Tasmanian exporters and farmers.

“Tasmanian farmers and exporters are the backbone of Tasmania’s economy,” Ms Bower said.

“The Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme was first instituted in 1977 by Liberal Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser, and has been critical to the success of our economy ever since.

“However, over the years its value has been eroded by increasing freight rates and inflation.

“A Dutton-led Coalition Government will immediately invest an additional $65 million into turbo-charging the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme, including:

• A 22 per cent increase in assistance for the calculated freight cost disadvantage for all northbound and southbound movements, increasing the current cap from $755 to $924 per twenty-foot (equivalent) container;
• An increase to the intermodal component from $100 to $200 per container;
• An increase to the trans-shipped (export) freight assistance from $700 to $800 per container, to reflect the increase in intermodal cost; and
• ⁠Increase the base amount of the King Island and Flinders Island fixed rate by 22 per cent, plus $100 to reflect the increase in the intermodal component of the Scheme.
  

“This turbo-charging of the TFES is on top of our commitment to contribute $150 million to help catalyse the Greater South East Irrigation Scheme, which will transform agriculture in the south of the state.

“Only the Coalition has a Plan to get Australia Back on Track,” Ms Bower concluded.