TFES is an Australian Government initiative intended to provide Tasmanian industries with equal opportunities to compete in other markets by reducing the cost of transporting freight across Bass Strait, to and from Tasmania, in recognition that Tasmanian shippers do not have the option of transporting goods interstate by road or rail.

The TFES rebate is funded through the Australian Government's Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development in Canberra.  The claims are processed by the Tasmanian Transport Program, which is housed within the Department of Human Services at Centrelink.

Andrew Smith from Willie Smith's explains the benefits of the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme and how it works.

Why do we need the TFES?

Throughout Australia, the cost of transporting freight by road should be roughly the same per kilometre, regardless of whether the goods are travelling from Melbourne to Brisbane, or Sydney to Hobart. However, since Tasmania faces additional costs over the 420 kilometres across Bass Strait due to the lack of road or rail transport options, the TFES helps to reduce this disadvantage.

What does the TFES cover?

Claims can be made for freight transport between the Tasmanian mainland and mainland Australia. The TFES also covers freight transport from King Island and any island in the Furneaux Group, to mainland Tasmania or mainland Australia.  In certain circumstances, additional assistance is available for shipments to mainland Australia from the Furneaux Group (Furneaux Group Additional Assistance).

For information on what is an eligible freight movement northbound (out of Tasmania) and southbound (into Tasmania) and how to lodge a claim, please refer to Tasmanian Transport Programs

More information is found at the Department of Human Services' TFES webpage

Requests for information on applying for TFES and other administrative matters should be directed to:
Tasmanian Transport Programs 
Department of Human Services 
GPO Box 1269 
HOBART TAS 7001 
Phone: 13 11 58
Fax: (03) 6222 2149 
Email: tfes.support@humanservices.gov.au.

Freight and Supply Chain Information

The Freight Expert Advisory Panel was established in 2014 to provide freight and supply chain advice to small and medium businesses in Tasmania; and to identify freight aggregation and collaboration opportunities to assist businesses to reduce costs, improve efficiency and better access markets.

The Freight Expert Advisory Panel developed some helpful information sheets to assist businesses.