Australians favour Tasmania-N.Z. link

Press, 4 December 1978, Page 16

Australians favour Tasmania-N.Z. link

NZPA Canberra The Australian Federal Government has agreed with the Tasmanian Government to the establishment of a trial TasmaniaNew Zealand air link. Australia’s domestic airlines, Ansett and T.A.A., and its international carrier. Qantas are to be approached about the proposal.

It follows talks in Canberra between the Transport Minister (Mr Peter Nixon), the Tasmania Federal Minister (Mr Kevin Newman) and Tourism Minister (Mr Michael Barnard). However, a joint statement issued later recognised that approval of the New Zealand Government was still one of the problems confronting the introduction of the service. Mr Nixon said he would raise the issue with the New Zealand Government at forthcoming discussions between the two Governments.

A link between Tasmania and New Zealand, probably Christchurch, has been pushed for some months by a Tasmanian Liberal backbencher in the Federal Parliament, Mr Michael Hodgman.

The statement said it was expected discussions would be held before Christmas with airlines seeking establishment of a service on a trial basis.

Apart from the New Zealand Government approval, other problems included the possible cost to the air-

lines of converting aircraft for the service (such as long-range fuel tanks), and the additional cost of operating the chosen Tasmanian airport oh an international basis. The statement did not stipulate what airport in Tasmania would be used, but Mr Barnard said later he favoured Hobart. “It seems to me that even though I represent a northern electorate (in Tasmania), the sensible thing to do would be to upgrade Hobart Airport because it is the capital of Tasmania and I think a service perhaps between Christchurch and Hobart would be the most sensible decision to make.”

During the talks, Mr Barnard said his Government was prepared to assist with the capital cost of up-grading a Tasmanian airport to international status, the statement said. This was estimated to cost up to S3M.

Mr Newman said that the proposed New Zealand/ Tasmanian air-link had been given a priority in the Commonwealth’s plan for Tasmania, which followed from the Calaghan Report on Tasmanian needs.

*1 am very hopeful that, working with the State Government, we will be able to give a great boost to the Tasmanian tourist industry w’hich will be of benefit to all Tasmanians.” Mr Newman said there was no question that the

Federal Government backed the proposal.

“The service, if it eventuates, will be of considerable benefit to the Tasmanian tourist industry,” he said.

Mr Barnard said he saw the service as being of such importance to the state’s tourist industry that the State Government was prepared to take the unprecedented step of contributing to airport upgrading costs.

“Tourism is Tasmania’s major growth industry,” he said. “We must encourage it in every way we can."

The Ministers said that the most pleasing aspect of the talks was that a definite agreement had been reached.

All aspects of this agreement w'ould be acted on as soon as possible, Mr Barnard and Mr Newman said.

Meanwhile the Minister of Transport (Mr McLachlan) said that nothing official had been heard from the Australians about the proposal, but obviously the first step would be the upgrading of Hobart airport.

it was his understanding that the Federal Transport Minister (Mr Peter Nixon) had already vetoed the use of federal funds for the airport improvements. No comment could be made on what the New Zealand Government’s attitude would be to the service until a detailed proposal bad been put before it, Mr McLachlan said.