Hands off maritime training says Rockliff

Queensland has made a bid to poach a long-running Tasmanian maritime course, invoking ire from the Deputy Premier, who has told the mainlanders to back off.

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THE Queensland Government has been told to keep its mitts off a Tasmanian program which has trained South Pacific mariners for the last 28 years.

The Pacific Maritime Training Services contract, held by the Australian Maritime College, expires in December.

The Palaszczuk Government has announced $100,000 in extra funding for TAFE Queensland to wrest the contract from Tasmania.

Queensland’s State Development Minister Kate Jones said her state was the natural place to train South Pacific patrol boats crews under the Defence Cooperation Program.

“It makes no sense to host maritime training for our Pacific Islander neighbours in Tasmania,” Ms Jones said.

Students on board a training vessel Bluefin. Picture: Australian Maritime College

But Tasmania’s Minister for Advanced Manufacturing and Defence Industries Jeremy Rockliff said Queensland’s attempts to establish itself in the field were too late.

He said over the last 28 years, the AMC trained almost 2300 people from 12 Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste in all aspects of running patrol boats.

“Frankly, Queensland has missed the boat and cannot match 28 years of action, experience and expertise in Tasmania, coupled with our natural marine advantages,” he said.

“This important training school rightfully belongs in Tasmania and that is where it should stay.

“The record speaks for itself: Tasmania has been providing that centre of maritime excellence at the Australian Maritime College for decades.

“AMC Search has been successfully delivering maritime training to the Pacific Patrol Boat Program and has continually improved and enhanced the training program to be a recognised global leader.”

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