- Infrastructure
- Transport
- Transport
- Nation Building Program
- Transport in Australia
- Transport Security
- Information for Australian Travellers
- Aviation Security
- Air Cargo Security
- Maritime Security
- Offshore Oil & Gas Security
- Surface Transport Security
- Office of the Inspector of Transport Security
- Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP)
- Legislation, Regulations and Codes
- Useful Links
- Contact the Office of Transport Security
- TravelSECURE
- Transport Programs
- Freight Logistics
- Transport Statistics
- Transport Publications
- Aviation
- Aviation
- Aviation White Paper
- Aviation Legislation
- Australian Airspace Policy
- Airports
- Air Cargo
- International Aviation
- Air Carriers' Liability
- International Air Services Information Memorandum
- Charter Guidelines
- International Airline Licences
- Family Assistance Code
- Timetable Summary
- Register of Available Capacity
- International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
- Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program
- International Airservices Commission (IASC)
- Asia Pacific Consultative Link (APCL)
- Regional Aviation
- General Aviation
- Environmental Issues
- Aviation Safety
- Aviation Security
- Aviation Transport Programs
- Research & Statistics
- Aviation Access Working Group (AAWG)
- Aviation Publications
- Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting Services (ARFFS)
- Roads
- Roads
- Nation Building Program
- Road Transport & Vehicles Legislation
- Roads, Highways & Freeways
- Motor Vehicles, Trailers & Bicycles
- Passengers, Freight & Bulk Goods
- Vehicles & The Environment
- Road Safety
- Vehicle Regulation
- Road Security
- Research & Statistics
- Roads Publications
- Review of the F3 to M7 Corridor Selection
- Rail
- Maritime
- Maritime
- Discussion Paper: Re-write of the Navigation Act 1912
- International Shipping
- Liability and Compensation for Maritime Incidents
- Principles of Liability Limitation
- General Maritime Claims
- Claims for Pollution Damage Caused by Oil From Oil Tankers
- Claims for Damage Caused by Fuel Oil
- Claims for Damage Caused by Hazardous and Noxious Substances
- Claims for Passenger Injury and Damage to Luggage
- Claims for Damage Arising out of Wreck Removal
- Coastal Shipping
- Maritime Safety
- National Maritime Safety Regulator
- Maritime Security
- Offshore Oil & Gas Security
- Maritime Transport Programs
- Research & Statistics
- Maritime Related Guide to Australian Government
- Environment Protection
- Maritime Publications
- Regional
- Local Government
- Local Government
- Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program
- Local Government Reform Fund
- Australian Council of Local Government (ACLG)
- Local Government & Planning Ministers' Council (LGPMC)
- Year of Women in Local Government 2010
- Financial Assistance Grants
- Supplementary funding to South Australian councils for local roads
- National Awards for Local Government
- Development Assessment Forum
- Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government
- Local Government Publications
- The Department
- The Department
- About The Department
- Career Opportunities
- Annual Reports
- Budget & Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements
- Media Centre
- Senate Order on Government Agency Contracts
- Freedom of Information
- Tenders
- Indexed List of Departmental Files
- Grants Reporting Requirements
- Departmental Publications
Tasmanian Wheat Freight Scheme
On this page you will find information about:
1. Administration
The scheme is administered in accordance with Ministerial Directions approved by the Minister in January 2006.
Click here for the TWFS Ministerial Directions - January 2006 [
PDF: 34 KB]
All claims for assistance for shipments under the scheme are assessed by Centrelink's Hobart office on behalf of the Department.
In the 2010-11 Budget, the Australian Government announced that up to $1.05 million would be made available under the scheme.
2. Purpose of the Scheme
The scheme provides a rebate to eligible shippers of bulk wheat on Bass Strait.
The scheme assists in alleviating the cost of shipping eligible bulk wheat to Tasmania so that businesses in Tasmania, relying on bulk wheat shipments, are not unduly disadvantaged.
The scheme operates by making payments of assistance to eligible shippers who are responsible for paying the sea freight costs of eligible bulk wheat.3. The Rebate
Subject to an annual appropriation by the Federal Parliament, up to $1.05 million is available in a financial year for distribution under the scheme.
A shipper may be eligible for a subsidy, at the rate of up to $20.65 per tonne, in respect of the freight costs of a shipment of bulk wheat by sea from the mainland to Tasmania. In each case the amount paid to the eligible shipper may not exceed that eligible shipper's freight costs.4. Further information
Requests for information on applying for TWFS, the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme or the Bass Strait Passenger Equalisation Scheme and other administrative matters should be directed to:
Tasmanian Transport Programs, Centrelink
GPO Box 1269,
HOBART TAS 7001,
FreeCALL: 1800 993 347,
Fax: (03) 6222 2149,
Email: tfes.support@centrelink.gov.au.
More information is found at Centrelink's TWFS webpage:
www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/businesses/twfs.htm
or go to Tasmanian Wheat Freight Scheme from the A to Z listing on Centrelink's homepage www.centrelink.gov.au
5. History
In 1959, a marketing arrangement was established to ensure that the administered price for wheat was the same for mainland Australian and Tasmanian users. The Tasmanian Wheat Freight Levy was financed by a levy on wheat sales, which was used to cover the freight costs to Tasmania.
In 1989, coinciding with the deregulation of the Australian domestic wheat market, the levy was replaced by the Tasmanian Wheat Freight Subsidy Scheme, administered at the time by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Assistance for bulk wheat was briefly halted following a Budget 2004-05 decision, when containerised wheat was included under the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme. Shortly after, the Australian Government made the decision to reinstate a scheme for bulk shipments of wheat. The new scheme, the Tasmanian Wheat Freight Scheme (TWFS) came into effect from 1 July 2004.
The Government also transferred responsibility for administration of the new TWFS from the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to the then Minister for Transport and Regional Services, (now the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government), to ensure that all transport related assistance is administered from within one portfolio. Rebates for containerised shipments of wheat are paid through the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme, and for bulk wheat through TWFS.
PDF: In order to download or print PDF versions of documents, you need to have Adobe Reader installed. If you don't have Adobe Reader installed, download the installer from the Adobe Reader web page and then install the Reader before continuing.
Disclaimer: The compatible application(s) listed above are examples only. The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government does not endorse any particular software developer or specific application.


