Supporters of Skeleton Bay’s bid for HMAS Tobruk have cried foul on federal government plans to offer the ship to states and territories at their own expense, amid fears Tasmania may have been priced out of contention for the former Navy vessel.
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Australian Minister for Defence, Senator Marise Payne last week announced former naval ships HMAS Tobruk and HMAS Sydney would be made available to the states or territories that agreed to cover the costs of scuttling the vessels.
The decision marks a step away from recent federal government policy which has seen every other state gifted a decommissioned HMAS vessel for diving purposes.
Break O'Day mayor Mick Tucker said he was pleased the federal government had decided against scrapping the ships but disappointed Tasmania had not been given a fair go.
“We acknowledge that offering both HMAS Tobruk and HMAS Sydney as artificial dive sites to the states and territories is a step in the right direction, in that they will not face the scrapping yards, however why should our bid for an ex-naval dive wreck be treated any differently to those that went before us?” Cr Tucker said.
“While we understand the costs of decommissioning and scuttling the Tobruk, we also do not see any reason why Tasmania should not receive the same treatment as our much wealthier mainland counterparts.”
Cr Tucker said the Break O’Day community would fight until “the final hour” for the economic benefits an artificial dive site would bring to the state.
“These other states have now seen the million dollar benefits these dive sites have returned each year while Tasmania, as usual, seems to be an afterthought on the federal agenda.
“We urge the federal government to reconsider this new user-pays model only recently implemented and allow Tasmania the same benefits that have already been showered upon the other states.”
Lyons Liberal MHR Eric Hutchinson also questioned the decision, saying he was “perplexed” that Tasmania had been again left at a disadvantage to other states.
“Tasmania is in the unique position of being the only state not to have received a fully-funded decommissioned naval vessel, as a gift from the Commonwealth - I note Queensland is in the enviable position of being the beneficiary of two such decommissioned vessels,” Mr Hutchinson said.
"I am not saying that creating a system whereby states and territories absorb the costs of the decommissioning and scuttling is inappropriate, but the creation of this scheme at this time when Tasmania is the only state or territory without a gifted vessel is simply inequitable.
“I will continue to lobby my federal counterparts to remedy this inequity.”