Financial help for Tasmanian businesses to move goods by sea

The Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme provides financial assistance to offset the additional costs of moving eligible non-bulk goods by sea across Bass Strait.

Assistance is calculated as the difference between the actual sea freight costs and the notional road freight costs over the same distance.

The scheme provides financial assistance for the costs incurred shipping eligible non-bulk goods by sea.

There are 3 categories of assistance: Northbound goods: assistance is available for freight shipping of eligible goods from Tasmania for permanent use or sale on the Australian mainland.

The goods must have been manufactured in Tasmania.

Goods manufactured on the mainland or outside of Tasmania are not eligible unless they have undergone a manufacturing process in Tasmania.

Southbound goods: assistance is available for manufacturing or mining businesses in Tasmania shipping eligible raw materials, machinery and equipment from the Australian mainland to Tasmania, or people or businesses in primary production in Tasmania shipping eligible raw materials, machinery and equipment used in primary production from the Australian mainland to Tasmania.

The goods must have been manufactured in mainland Australia, or if imported, have undergone a manufacturing process in mainland Australia.

Intrastate: assistance is available for shipments of freight between King Island, Flinders Island and any island in the Furneaux Group and the main island of Tasmania.

Applications may be made at any time.

To claim, register for TFES and then claim for freight assistance online.