Typed copy of handwritten
Submission
	1337 Coast Road
14.6.06	Lady Barron
	Flinders Island  Tas  7255

Topic:	Submission for Freight Assistance where isolated areas are at a distinct disadvantage with added costs of higher electricity charges, gas, fuel and freight to markets within Tasmania and interstate

Representing
(A)	M&W muttonbirds and other commercial muttonbird operations

(B)	Ancient fishing secrets – Fish bait prepared for local and the Tasmanian recreational fishing season

Listed below are a number of issues I consider puts isolated businesses, ie Flinders Island at a disadvantage to our mainland Tasmania counterparts.

.	Fuel Costs
	-	Modern facilities on isolated islands such as Big Dog Island, where commercial harvesting takes place.
	-	The facilities on the Island include a coolroom and is required to be on for the duration of the season.
	-	Power is obtained by using diesel generators.
	-	Fuel costs for approx six weeks is $2500.00 per shed.
	-	Fuel costs on Flinders Island is generally 20-30 cents higher than it is in Tasmania per litre.
	-	Commercial muttonbird operators are currently experiencing a higher demand for our products but we feel any price increase in the market place will adversely affect this growing demand.

.	Gas LPG
	-	The price of gas on Flinders Island is $160.00 for a 45 kg bottle.
	-	Gas costs for a commercial muttonbird season is $960.00 or 6 cylinders.  Gas prices have increased dramatically over the last few years.

.	Double freight charges to supply potential interstate markets
	-	ALL businesses wishing or having markets for goods interstate from Flinders Island have this added burden if using shipping services via Launceston to supply those markets.
	-	Southern shipping costs or current rates are per pallet or per box of goods.
	-	Pallet rates are $250.00 or $5.00 per box.
	-	Loose boxes are at a rate of $7.00 per box.
	-	Boxes weigh between 8-9 kg on average

.	Freighting services from Launceston to interstate markets
-	Chilled and frozen goods designated for interstate markets is generally carried by Toll Transport Pty Ltd.
-	Toll will only generally take palletised goods.
-	Half pallets are approx. 40 boxes, full pallets 81 boxes.
-	Costs of sending 2 full pallets to Sydney 162 boxes is $727.60 
-	Total costs of 162 boxes of muttonbirds from Flinders Island to Sydney is $1561.60.

.	Electricity
-	Again our costs for electricity is higher than our Tasmanian counterparts.

.	Packaging
-	Generally all packaging is freighted in via Southern Shipping which means we are behind the eightball at being competitive from the very start.
-	Some businesses are now having to get packaging via AMCOR from Victoria.
-	Most packaging needs were obtained from AMCOR at Remount Road Mowbray in Tasmania prior to this year, so again this is an impost on any business in isolated areas.

.	Air Freight
-	Air freight services via Flinders Island Aviation Services will no longer be an option for use to consider as a transit service to get our goods to the market place.
-	This year the price was $10.25 per box and we were advised that costs were held back.

I have added some Confidential appendages to confirm some to the information contained herein.

Thankyou

J Wells