Expressions of Interest now open for essential sea freight to Outer Torres Strait

• The Miles Labor Government is committed to delivering essential services to Outer Torres Strait Island communities
• An expression of interest process  has now opened to deliver essential sea freight to services to Outer Torres Strait Island (OTSI) communities.
• Expressions of interest are being sought from sea freight operators with the capability and capacity to provide these essential services, in turn helping to lessen the cost-of-living pressures due to freight transportation challenges.
• The Miles Labor Government continues to deliver on its commitment to reduce cost-of-living pressures across Queensland including in the Northern Peninsula, Torres Strait and Gulf region through its $64 million Remote Communities Freight Assistance Scheme. 

The Miles Labor Government has opened an expression of interest process to deliver essential sea freight to services to Outer Torres Strait Island (OTSI) communities.

Reaffirming its commitment to ensuring communities in the OTSI region are provided with reliable and cost-effective delivery of essential goods, the Miles Government is seeking expressions of interest from sea freight operators with the capability and capacity to provide these essential services, in turn helping to lessen the cost-of-living pressures due to freight transportation challenges.

Owing to the complexity of supply chain and transport logistics, the cost of shipping freight to the OTSI region is significantly higher than other supply chains. This can result in higher prices to consumers for essential goods.

Along with the Queensland Government increasing the Remote Communities Freight Assistance Scheme’s discount on essential items from 5.2 per cent to 20 per cent on 9 September 2024, the government continues to ensure that regional Queensland supply chains are robust to keep communities connected to freight movements providing access to affordable, essential items.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads has released an expression of interest via QTenders, which closes midnight Friday, 22 November 2024.

Expressions of interest will help inform how Queensland Government can best work with a freight service provider to ensure the OTSI region is well supported into the future. 

The Queensland Government continues to deliver on its commitment to reduce cost-of-living pressures across Queensland including in the Northern Peninsula, Torres Strait and Gulf region through its $64 million Remote Communities Freight Assistance Scheme.

The Outer Torres Strait Island region has an approximate population of 8,000 people, which is dispersed across 16 small and remote islands located in the Torres Strait, between the Cape York Peninsula and Papua New Guinea.

For more information about this opportunity including how to apply, go to https://qtenders.epw.qld.gov.au/qtenders/tender/display/tender-details.do?CSRFNONCE=C0B3123BBC37A69DF108CE8CD4F4E94B&id=53433&action=display-tender-details

Quotes attributable to the Member for Cook, Cynthia Lui

“This Sea Freight EOI will help to address the immediate challenges associated with our vast, dispersed communities in the Torres Strait.

“As the Member for Cook, I will always fight for better outcomes for all of the communities I represent.”

Quotes attributable to the Transport and Main Roads Minister Bart Mellish:

“Our state includes some of the most remote communities anywhere in the world, which is why continuing to support them is critical to ensuring sustainable freight service delivery.

“Reducing cost of living pressures for Queenslanders, regardless of where they are located is a key focus of the Queensland Government, along with ensuring communities remain connected to essential goods and services.

"I encourage prospective sea freight operators who are interested in working with the Queensland Government to provide essential services to the OTSI region to submit an expression of interest.”

ENDS

Media contact – Minister Mellish office – 0419 288 284