Senator HARRADINE (2:31 PM) —My question is addressed to Senator Ian Macdonald representing the Minister for Transport and Regional Services. The minister will be aware of the adverse effects that the Ansett collapse has had on Tasmanian families, Tasmanian industry and commerce—particularly the seafood and perishable goods area—and Tasmanian tourism. Has the minister's attention been drawn to the fact that the rural health conference with 250 delegates which was to be held this weekend in Port Arthur has been cancelled and that, at the moment, you cannot get a seat on a flight to Tasmania before next Wednesday? I want to get out of this place at the end of next week. What steps is the government taking to ensure that air services to and from Tasmania meet the urgent need—particularly to Tasmania because it is a popular place and there is much need there?

Senator IAN MACDONALD (Minister for Regional Services, Territories and Local Government) —I agree with Senator Harradine that Tasmania is a very popular place. I am conscious, Senator Harradine, of the difficulties being experienced by your state. I am aware of it from things you have said and things my colleagues in this chamber have said. A couple of Townsville students were going to the rural health conference in Tasmania. I can assure you, Senator Harradine, that they are bitterly disappointed at not being able to get to Tasmania. Senator Abetz is disappointed because he was going to open it. I am conscious of those difficulties. Tasmania is a great tourist destination. I am conscious of the impact that the airline difficulties are having on your state.

You asked what we are doing to try to correct the situation. You and Liberal senators from Tasmania have been in constant contact with Mr Anderson's office working through the issues and trying to ensure that the best services available can get there. Unfortunately, it is a matter of record that, with the Ansett planes going down and therefore the Kendell planes going down, there is simply not the capacity within Australia. I am advised that Launceston and Burnie will receive a limited air service for the rest of this week. Qantas and its subsidiary Southern operated a return flight from Melbourne to Launceston yesterday and will again today and tomorrow. Burnie and Wynyard will be without services until Friday when a 36-seat Dash 8 will operate across Bass Strait. The Launceston to Melbourne run will be serviced by a BAe 146 seating approximately 80 passengers, with the exception of yesterday and today when a 737 will be doing that.

The main way we can help Tasmania is to get all the aircraft formerly used by Ansett into the air as soon as possible. The government is working with the administrator to the limit of our ability. I know the administrator is doing what he can to get those aircraft back in the air. There are aircraft available. There are pilots there willing to fly them. There are ground crew there willing to load them and there are certainly passengers there wanting to fly. Business commonsense would say that in the very near future something will happen. It is at this stage a matter for the administrator. The government is working very closely with the administrator. Anything we can possibly do to assist in that process we will do. We are trying to fix the short-term problem and I realise the short-term problem is very difficult. We really have to look towards the intermediate term and try to get those aircraft back in the air so that people who want to go to that magnificent destination, particularly at this time of year—I guess any time of the year—that great conference destination, Tasmania, can do so. The best thing we can do is get the airline system operating, and that is what the government is trying to do.

Senator HARRADINE —Madam President, I ask a supplementary question. I thank the minister. He mentioned Launceston and Burnie. Would he take it on notice—or perhaps his office could—to give to me afterwards information about Hobart and Devonport. Could I just ask the minister whether at this stage the government might consider the issue regarding a Bass Strait shipping service as though Bass Strait were a national highway.

Senator IAN MACDONALD (Minister for Regional Services, Territories and Local Government) —Again, I am sure Senator Harradine is aware of the Bass Strait Passenger Vehicle Equalisation Scheme, which the Howard government put into place and which, at Senator Abetz's pushing, was recently extended to King Island. That is something that the Howard government has done to try to encourage vehicular traffic across Bass Strait, and it has been enormously successful: there has been a 100 per cent increase in the number of vehicles going across. I am aware, Senator, that the National Sea Highway Committee has had some proposals. I am aware that you have a great interest in it, as do my colleagues on this side of the chamber. We have had a joint working group looking at that, and the joint working group has reported to me and to the Victorian and Tasmanian governments. We have not yet released that report. We are considering aspects of it, although I understand, Senator, that the joint working group has recommended against the proposal of calling it a national highway, for a number of reasons. But I can go into that at a later time. (Time expired)