Government accused of watering down Bruny booking system survey

THE State Government has been accused of watering down a key report which rejected a booking system for the Bruny Island ferry service.

SeaLink Travel Group’s design for a new Bruny Island ferry service. Picture: SEALINK

THE State Government has been accused of watering down a key report which rejected a booking system for the Bruny Island ferry service.

The successful tenderer for the popular Kettering to Roberts Point service — SeaLink — proposed a booking service, but it has been delayed until April after resident outcry.

Local Labor member David O’Byrne said the watering down of the document appeared to have driven the tendering process towards a predetermined outcome.

The initial draft of the 2018 Bruny Life Community Survey was strongly against a booking system.

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“The introduction of a booking system, if applied more generally, has potentially serious negative consequences for the freedom of movement currently enjoyed by residents,” it said.

But in the final draft the wording had been changed.

“The survey had insufficient data to reasonably consider the impact of these proposals on residents, non-resident landowners, businesses and other Tasmanians,” it said.

Mr O’Byrne said this document informed the tender process.

The Bruny Island ferry porposed by Sealink. Picture: SEALINK

“What role has the Government played, what role has the department played, in watering down this document?” he said.

Mr O’Byrne said the result of the changes was that the tender process was potentially tilted in favour of a proposal which included a booking system.

“Hypothetically a tenderer who was close to the community on the island, who was listening to the community that they didn’t want a booking system, could have put in a tender that did not have a booking system and might have missed out on being awarded the tender because of that.”

A spokeswoman denied the Government had any involvement in changing the wording of the document.

“The Kingborough Council undertook the study through commissioning an external consultant, with no direct involvement from the State Government,” she said. “Any questions regarding the drafting process should be directed to the Kingborough Council.”

The Bruny Life website notes it was funded jointly by the Department of State Growth and Kingborough Council.