Ferguson leaves King Island high and dry

Tasmanian Labor
  • Crucial freight vessel out of action again
  • Latest in long list of infrastructure fails by Ferguson
  • Bass Strait no place for experiments
  • The crucial King Island freight link has become the latest victim of Michael Ferguson’s trademark incompetence.

    Shadow Minister for Infrastructure Shane Broad said the island’s freight service has been thrown into chaos with news the John Duigan will spend at least the next 12 weeks in dry dock.

    “The reliability of this service has a huge cloud over it, given the John Duigan is off the water again, just weeks after a separate long stint in dry dock for repairs.

    “Worryingly, while the government is now ordering a new propeller shaft, they’ve admitted they do not know the root cause of the problems with the vessel.

    “Bass Strait is one of the roughest stretches of water in the world and this latest debacle highlights the dangers of putting vessels on the route that are not fit for purpose.

    “The Liberals made the decision to purchase the Malaysian-built John Duigan at a cost of $10 million and its future is now in doubt.

    “This is just another in a long list of examples of Michael Ferguson’s trademark incompetence and highlights the complete inability of this government to deliver infrastructure projects.

    “If Michael Ferguson can’t get it right with a relatively small maritime purchase, there’s no confidence in his plans to pursue an untested Philippines build for the much larger replacement Spirits of Tasmania.”

    Shane Broad MP

    Shadow Minister for Infrastructure

    /Public Release. View in full here.