Senator Eric Abetz

The Tasmanian Liberal Senator's and Federal Franklin Liberal Candidate, Jane Howlett, joined the Fix Ferry Road convener, Graham Bannister, today to discuss the urgency of rectifying congestion on the road which leads to the Bruny Island Ferry terminal.

The State Labor-Green Government first budget broke State Labor's promise over improving Ferry Road at Kettering.

"Following discussions with Kingborough Councilors and the Ferry Road action group I will be doing everything I can to get funds delivered that were committed to," Jane Howlett said.

The State Government has said it will do nothing more than simply ‘plan’ for these changes and no resources have been committed to actually making the required upgrades.

The Liberal Senate Team have pointed out that the State Liberals had committed $8 million to the project as had State Labor and would pursue what is an important issue to the community now the Labor/Green government were no longer fixing the road.

"We all know what it is like to queue up waiting for the ferry in the middle of summer, just imagine what the locals have to deal with," Jane Howlett said.

"My family operates a Channel tourism venture and understands how important access to decent infrastructure is."

Senator Eric Abetz, speaking on behalf of the Tasmanian Liberal Senate Team, said the problems associated with the congestion on the road was highlighted during today’s visit by three large B-Double gravel trucks waiting in line with commuters at the Ferry Terminal.

The Liberal Senate Team and Jane Howlett said they would be looking at ways of getting the Ferry Road problems fixed for Bruny and Kettering residents as well as tourists visiting the area.