Review of the Tasmanian Transport Schemes

The independent review of the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme (TFES) and the Bass Strait Passenger Vehicle Equalisation Scheme (BSPVES), known as the Tasmanian Transport Schemes Review or the Review, commenced on 7 October 2025.

The Review will contribute to serving the best interests of Tasmanian businesses and communities by reducing administrative burden and enabling more efficient shipping. It will help ensure that the schemes remain fit-for-purpose and delivers for Tasmanians into the future while supporting fair and sustainable access to mainland markets.

The Reviewers will deliver a final report to the Government for consideration in the first half of 2026. In support of the delivery of the final report, the Reviewers recently conducted consultation sessions throughout Tasmania and Melbourne. The concerns raised by stakeholders during these sessions fall into four broad groups:

• Rates: the rates used to calculate the rebates, and how these rates should be indexed over time to maintain the competitiveness of Tasmanian producers;
• Coverage: what producers and products are eligible for TFES;
• Complexity: the costs to producers of submitting claims and the disincentive effect this has on eligible producers submitting claims; and
• Competitiveness: This has two aspects. The first is the reliability of freight services in the short and longer term and the ability of producers to negotiate with freight providers over access and prices. The second is the importance of the Scheme for businesses making investment decisions about business location or expansion.

The BSPVES was also discussed during these sessions, but few issues were raised about the design or operation. What issues were raised, fall into three categories:

• what vehicles are eligible for BSPVES;
• whether the rate of assistance is sufficient to generate significant benefits to tourism and to Tasmanians seeking to travel to the mainland for holidays; and
• the competition between passenger vehicles and freight for space, and consequent rationing of passenger vehicle places during peak tourism periods.

As part of the consultations, we want to hear your views on the concerns raised by the stakeholders so far, to ensure any changes are fit-for-purpose and don’t deliver unexpected consequences. This feedback will play a key role in the development of the final report to government.

If you have previously provided a submission to the Senate Select Committee on the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme, the Reviewers have access to and read these submissions already. You do not need to resubmit information that was provided in these submissions, however you may provide additional information that is relevant to the issues raised above and issues paper below.

Relevant documentation

List relevant document here and formats, including the email address you want submissions sent to. Please also include these documents as attachments to your request.

Relevant Documents:

• Issues Paper – Independent Review of the Tasmanian Transport Schemes