Tasmania would be a “logical choice” to relocate the Australian Maritime Safety Authority if the agency is moved from Canberra, Senator Jonathon Duniam declared.
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At the Tasmanian Liberal Party State Council at the weekend a motion to lobby the federal government for the relocation of the agency was unanimously carried.
It comes after the policy to relocate non-policy related jobs from Canberra to regional areas was announced in April by the National Party.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority is a government department dedicated to ensuring safe vessel operations, combatting marine pollution and rescuing people in distress across Australia.
Senator Duniam said Saturday’s motion at the Liberal Party council “reaffirms everything that I’ve been talking about”.
“I think it’s always great to have added economic activity in taking place in Tasmania and when you have a certain number of government-funded public servants based out of a regional economy that’s only going to boost all sorts of economic activity,” he said.
“I’m continuing the discussion with the state government and various local governments plus chambers of commerce and industry to see that we can progress this and see government agencies relocated to Tasmania.”
The relocation of Canberra-based government agencies has been a controversial suggestion by the National Party.
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has faced an uphill battle to promote the relocation of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority to his electorate in New South Wales.
"Decentralisation is not just an abstract idea but is a real priority for this government," Mr Joyce said last year.
Tasmania has just 2.6 per cent of federal public servant jobs, compared with 37.2 per cent in the ACT, 19.2 per cent in NSW and 16.9 per cent in Victoria.
Senator Duniam said the position of the ocean coupled with high seafaring activity made the agency a good fit.
“Tasmania being an island state it’s a logical choice to look at having such an agency based here,” he said.
Senator Duniam said he would continue discussions with his federal government colleagues about the relocation.