THE state government has chosen a Singapore-based company as its preferred operator for a direct international shipping link.
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Infrastructure Minister Rene Hidding told State Parliament this morning the government expected to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with shipping company Swire ''in the near future''.
''We expect a period of market testing will then take place before the shipping line establishes arrangements to commence operations,'' Mr Hidding said.
''Our export industries have suffered with the lack of such a service, and the government is committed to doing everything we can to see one reintroduced,'' he said.
Labor infrastructure spokesman Craig Farrell said the decision ''exposed Mr Hidding as a fraud''.
''After more than eight dithering months in office Mr Hidding has made no more progress than the former Labor government,'' Mr Farrell said.
In February the Labor government entered into negotiations with Swire.
Tasmania has not had an international shipping link since 2011.
The Liberals promised to reintroduce the link as an election promise, pledging $33 million over three years to attract an international company.