TT-Line fares will be reduced as a result of the abolition of the carbon tax.
The Liberal Government has a vision of growing our tourism industry to 1.5 million visitors per year by 2020.
Reducing the cost of travel on the Spirits of Tasmania is one of the best things we can do to boost visitor numbers to the state.
In contrast, Labor and the Greens support the reintroduction of the carbon tax and therefore stand for higher TT-Line and freight prices, in addition to the higher electricity, gas and general Bass Strait freight prices they also now support.
As a result of the carbon tax removal, fares will reduce as follows:
For a typical family of four travelling with a car the removal of the carbon surcharge will represent a $36 saving on a return journey.
The surcharge will be removed from the company's fare structure for future bookings effective Tuesday 29 July 2014.
Refunds of the carbon surcharge will be available for travel between 1 July and 29 July 2014.
The surcharge cost customers about $3 million in 2013/14 and would have cost customers an estimated $3.2 million in 2014/15.
The Liberal Government is committed to bringing down the price of travel on the ferries, and this announcement is further proof of that.
In line with our election promise we have asked TT-Line to prepare a business case which will see the average annual fare reduced by up to 20 per cent within the four years of Government.*
*Note, TT-Line currently has in place a "Spring into Summer" deal which represents a 25% saving off normal prices - http://www.spiritoftasmania.com.au/fares/specials.aspx