A push by some King Island residents to sever ties with Tasmania and become part of Victoria has prompted a commitment from Hobart to fix a freight problem.
Following concerns about recent changes to shipping arrangements, a petition calling for the jurisdictional switch is collecting signatures across the Bass Strait island.
Tasmanian Deputy Premier Jeremy Rockliff visited King Island on Tuesday and said he had heard firsthand the concerns of residents and business operators.
"What the islanders want is a reliable, regular shipping service and this is what the government wants," he told reporters on Wednesday.
At present, King Island is being visited three times a week by a vessel smaller than the previous ship and there have been problems keeping up with demand.
"We've got a short-term solution at the present time and we recognise that is not the right solution for the long term," Mr Rockliff said.
"One of the ideas discussed was a purpose-built vessel for the island that serves the island a mix of goods - exporting beef, importing goods, there is a huge mix of needs."
That long-term solution should be in place within about 18 months, he said.
Petition co-ordinator Jill Munro said residents just wanted a fair go.
"King Island is one of the most productive parts of Tasmania but we are treated as the poor relation," she told News Corp Australia.
"We want to be treated fairly and are very serious about this move."
If the move was to happen, it would be a welcome one for Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.
"I think we'd all be very, very happy to have their golf courses, their cheese, their beef," he told reporters in Hong Kong on Wednesday. "That'd be very welcome."
But Mayor Duncan McFie, whose council would also be put into administration under plans by the petitioners, dismissed the move.
"I'll join most King Islanders and have a bit of a laugh about this," he said.
Constitutional law expert George Williams said the path of secession was not easy.
"There would need to be a Tasmanian referendum and you'd also need the state parliament to agree and then the Commonwealth would need to bring about the change," Professor Williams told the ABC.
The state opposition says the petition shows a lack of community confidence for Tasmania's government.
"King Island is far too important for Tasmania to lose. Its fresh produce and golf courses are the envy on the world," Labor MP Scott Bacon said, calling for the sacking of Infrastructure Minister Rene Hidding over his handling of the freight service.
Share
