TASMANIAN growers are losing at least $1 million in fresh produce every day over concerns surrounding Bass Strait freight constraints.
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In the wake of the Spirit of Tasmania accident when the passenger ship broke its moorings and was thrashed several metres into the shores of Port Melbourne last Wednesday, the flow-on effects are starting to hurt several agricultural sectors.
Tasmania Farmers and Graziers Association president Wayne Johnston has said a company has already felt the impact.
He said Harvest Moon, which supplies to major supermarkets throughout Australia and overseas, was an example of daily losses to the state.
"They had to put off their production on Friday because of the lack of capacity on the ship across Bass Strait," Mr Johnston said.
"The loss per day is possibly $1 million worth of freight sitting on the Spirit at Melbourne that they couldn't get off.
"That's just one load.
"It easily could be $1 million every day, actually."
Mr Johnston said the "list that goes on and on" included suppliers of chicken, cheese and milk products that were shipped daily.
He said King Island farmers had been "left high and dry".
The association will meet with the state government this week to discuss issues raised over freight to the mainland.
"What we're concerned about is that one accident shows that the capacity of freight is pretty poor at the moment and we need the government to look at other options as far as freight goes," Mr Johnston said.
"Minister [Rene] Hidding tells us private enterprise will take care of that, but I still think there is room for the government to be providing a good freight service."
The state opposition doesn't believe Infrastructure Minister Hidding has taken concerns of farmers around Bass Strait freight constraints seriously.
"For nearly two years, Labor has been calling on the government to put contingency plans in place to deal with growing demand for fresh freight," Opposition spokesperson Craig Farrell said.
"Labor is concerned that the investment we made in irrigation will be squandered if farmers cannot be guaranteed they can get their produce off the island."
But Mr Hidding has dismissed the claims, suggesting that major freight providers are carrying more freight than ever before with more day sailings to accommodate demand.
He said the government had been working closely with TT-Line to ensure normal service resumed as soon as possible.
"There are already plans to increase freight capacity across Bass Strait, with SeaRoad set to increase its capacity by 50 per cent when its new vessel enters service later this year, and additional sailings of the Spirits of Tasmania," he said.
