• Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Read Our Newspapers Online
    • Read the Latest Western Port News
    • Read the Latest Mornington News
    • Read the Latest Southern Peninsula News
    • Read the Latest Frankston Times
    • Read the Latest Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News
  • Competition
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending
  • Catch of the decade
  • Season on the line for Seagulls
  • Pythons face an uphill battle, Redlegs stumble
  • Ketch blown ashore in Dromana
  • Early morning hit
  • Boxing world mourns loss of a champion
  • Successfully navigating the path of anxiety
  • Ryman abandons Mt Martha centre
Facebook Twitter
MPNEWSMPNEWS
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
MPNEWSMPNEWS
Home»News»Mornington Peninsula’s shock move to Tasmania
News

Mornington Peninsula’s shock move to Tasmania

By Cameron McCulloughApril 1, 2021Updated:April 7, 2021No Comments3 Mins Read
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

The bitter wrangle between local and state governments over the designation of the Mornington Peninsula as “metropolitan Melbourne” has reached crisis point with local authorities reaching out to officially become part of Tasmania.

The move follows unsuccessful attempts to have the Mornington Peninsula redesignated part of Regional Victoria.

“The issue really came to light during the Covid-19 lockdowns,” said local businessman Jeremy Turnstingle.

“Being lumped in with metro Melbourne was a huge blow.

“If you remember, we were forced to lock down, despite having no cases, while Regional Victoria were able to stay open.”

The decision sparked an outcry on the Mornington Peninsula and was followed by persistent lobbying including petitions to the state government, and even questions asked directly to Premier Daniel Andrews during his daily press conferences.

At stake was more than exemptions from lockdowns. Regional Victoria benefits from a raft of incentives and concessions not available to metro Melbourne including lower rates of payroll tax and stamp duty. Frustratingly to Mornington Peninsula’s residents and businesses, much of the other side of Port Phillip Bay is designated as Regional Victoria, while the Mornington Peninsula is considered metro Melbourne.

“Imagine, businesses pay 4.5% payroll tax in Sorrento, but a quick dog paddle across to Queenscliff, they pay half that rate! It just doesn’t make sense!” said Mr Turnstingle.

And after months of lobbying, and no action, this issue has finally reached tipping point.

“We’ve tried everything we can to make the government see this our way,” said Frank Groundstein, a shire spokesperson that spoke to The News on the condition of anonymity.

“We’ve tried the carrot, and now we have to use the stick. We’ve contacted Tasmania to see if they’ll have us.”

It is believed Tasmania has given the idea the green light.

“I think the Mornington Peninsula has a lot to offer Tasmania,” said a spokesperson for the Tasmanian government.

“It would be great to have some beaches you could sit on without getting frost-bite. And Tasmania would only be a quick drive from the Melbourne CBD, which would be great for our tourism.”

There are other benefits too. It is believed plans are underway for a drive-on, drive-off facility at Mornington Pier allowing the Spirit of Tasmania to dock there instead of Devonport.

“This will be wonderful for Mornington with all the interstate travellers heading here from Melbourne,” said local trader Felicity Fathom.

It is believed docking the Spirit of Tasmania in Mornington instead of Devonport will shorten the current ten hour journey to Tasmania to about an hour.

Asked about the move by the Mornington Peninsula to join Tasmania, Premier Dan Andrews refused to comment, but bystanders reporting hearing him murmur something about “slippery steps”.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

Related Posts

Early morning hit

August 8, 2022

Ryman abandons Mt Martha centre

August 8, 2022

Saving on power costs

August 8, 2022

Opportunites for baristas

August 1, 2022
Add A Comment

Comments are closed.

Weather
Aug 11, 2022 - Thu
Mornington, Australia
15°C
overcast clouds
overcast clouds
11 m/s, N
56%
761.31 mmHg
thu08/11 fri08/12 sat08/13 sun08/14 mon08/15
light rain
14/11°C
overcast clouds
13/9°C
light rain
11/10°C
moderate rain
11/10°C
moderate rain
10/10°C
Peninsula Essence Magazine

Click here to read

July 25, 2022
Peninsula Kids Magazine

Click here to read

May 26, 2022
Council Watch

Shire ‘committed’ to aged care

August 8, 2022

Shire not forced to drop aged care services

August 1, 2022
State Elections 2022

‘Justice’ for animals and climate

August 8, 2022

Peta Murphy wins second term in Dunkley

May 23, 2022

Shire accused of being off track with pledges

May 17, 2022
Interview

All aboard for murder mystery

July 25, 2022
Property of the Week

14 Lynch Court, Mt Martha

July 26, 2022
100 Years Ago This Week

Ketch blown ashore in Dromana

August 8, 2022
Contact
Street: 63 Watt Road, Mornington, 3931
Mailing: PO Box 588, Hastings, 3915
Menu
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
About

Established in 2006, Mornington Peninsula News Group (MPNG) is a locally owned and operated, independent media company.

MPNG publishes five weekly community newspapers: the Western Port News, Mornington News, Southern Peninsula News, Frankston Times and Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News.

MPNG also publishes two glossy magazines: Peninsula Essence and Peninsula Kids.

Facebook Twitter
© 2022 Mornington Peninsula News Group.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.