A former North Stradbroke Island resident has launched a petition calling for a 50 per cent barge subsidy and 50-cent passenger ferry fares for locals, arguing islanders deserve the same level of support as nearby communities.
The petition, started by Callen Sorensen-Karklis, has gained growing support online with more than 500 signatures, with Redlands Mayor Jos Mitchell and local MP Amanda Stoker also acknowledging the need for more affordable transport options.
Mr Sorensen-Karklis said he was presenting the petition as a “former resident of North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah) with much of my father’s side of my family still located there,” and as “a former Sealink employee who assisted in ticket prices for the ferry and barges for a time while in between government jobs.”
He said the success of the former Miles Labor Government’s 2024 initiative to introduce 50-cent fares on public transport — including buses, trains, CityCats, and South Moreton Bay Islands ferries — showed that such measures could be achieved.
“It’s evident that Sealink creates enough profits as a multimillion-dollar company to succeed. If the Crisafulli LNP QLD State Government can organise a simple 50% barge subsidy for the South Moreton Bay Islands (SMBI) then it can do the same for North Stradbroke Island residents,” he said.
“This was the case with their recent state budget for the 2025/26 period for SMBI.”
Mr Sorensen-Karklis credited Redlands Mayor Jos Mitchell for “calling for cheaper fares for North Stradbroke Island residents since July 2025,” and acknowledged “local MP Amanda Stoker for acknowledging the issue and negotiating the 35% discount.”
“Its a start but still not enough with 15% more needed to ease the cost of living pressures for locals,” he said.
The petition calls on both the State Government and Sealink to “acknowledge to do better for island residents during the ongoing cost of living crisis locally and abroad.”
It requests two key measures:
“50% subsidy for North Stradbroke Island residents.”
“$0.50 cent fares for North Stradbroke Island residents.”
The petition is addressed to the Queensland State Government and Sealink, which operates ferry and barge services to the island.
Click here to sign the petition: www.change.org/p/north-stradbroke-island-needs-50-barge-subsidy-and-0-50-cent-passenger-ferry-prices
