Tasmanian Bass Strait Islands Air Travel Concession

What Is This Payment?

Living on King Island or in the Furneaux Group means the only practical way to reach mainland Tasmania for many trips is to fly. For pensioners on a fixed income, the cost of even an occasional flight to the mainland for family, services or appointments can be significant.

This concession recognises that isolation by giving eligible island pensioners a 50% rebate on one return flight to the Tasmanian mainland each financial year.

The rule database tags it as a Group B benefit with eligibility_only as its result role. The 50% rebate is applied against your actual fare, so the saving is described as a percentage of the trip rather than a set dollar amount.

How Much Can You Get?

The amount block is eligibility_only with period: none. There is no fixed cash figure; the value is 50% of the cost of one return flight to mainland Tasmania per financial year.

• 50% rebate on the airfare for one return trip to the mainland.
• One trip per financial year (the rule sets a limit of one).
• Value scales with the fare - a more expensive ticket means a larger rebate, up to the half-price level.

Eligibility Conditions

The eligibility block is an all set, so every condition must pass.

1. Tasmanian resident: state = TAS. The concession is run through Concessions Tasmania.
2. Lives on a Bass Strait island: lives_on_bass_strait_island = true - King Island or the Furneaux Group (including Flinders Island).
3. Eligible concession card: concession_card_type must be in [pensioner_concession_card, dva_gold_card], so an age pensioner or DVA Gold Card holder qualifies.

The concession is aimed at island age pensioners, so the card requirement is narrower than some other Tasmanian transport concessions - a Health Care Card alone is not listed here.

Because the rebate is limited to one return trip per financial year, plan the trip you most need to make on the mainland before claiming.

How To Apply

The application channel is online. You will need to provide your concession card and a flight itinerary as evidence.

• Book your return flight between your island and mainland Tasmania.
• Apply online with your concession card details and the flight itinerary.
• Claim the 50% rebate against your fare, remembering it covers one trip per financial year.

Read the official TAS Bass Strait Islands Air Travel Concession guidance

Rule-Based Scenarios

Scenario 1: a King Island pensioner visiting family

Beryl is an age pensioner on King Island who flies to Launceston once a year to see her grandchildren. She claims the 50% rebate on the return airfare, halving the cost of the trip.

Scenario 2: a Flinders Island veteran with a DVA Gold Card

Ron lives on Flinders Island and holds a DVA Gold Card. He uses the concession for his annual return flight to the mainland for appointments, paying half the fare.

Scenario 3: a second trip in the same year

Beryl needs to fly to the mainland again later in the year, but because the rebate is limited to one return trip per financial year, the second trip is at full fare.

Scenario 4: a mainland resident who does not qualify

Tom holds a Pensioner Concession Card but lives in Devonport on mainland Tasmania, so the lives_on_bass_strait_island condition is not met and the concession does not apply.

Common Mistakes

• Assuming it covers unlimited flights: the rebate is limited to one return trip per financial year.
• Thinking any concession card works: only a Pensioner Concession Card or DVA Gold Card is listed for this concession.
• Forgetting the flight itinerary: you need to provide your itinerary as evidence when you claim.
• Believing it is a fixed dollar amount: the rebate is 50% of your fare, so the saving depends on the ticket price.
• Claiming as a mainland resident: you must actually live on a Bass Strait island to qualify.
• Not applying online: the claim is made online with your concession card details, so allow time to lodge it correctly.

Related Benefits

• TAS Bruny Island Ferry Concession - discounted ferry fares for card holders.
• TAS Motor Tax 40% Rebate - rebate on goods vehicles for card holders.
• TAS Patient Travel Assistance Scheme - help with travel for medical treatment.
• TAS Public Transport Concession - reduced fares for eligible Tasmanians.
• Age Pension - federal income support for older Australians.
• Pensioner Concession Card - the federal card that unlocks this concession.

Frequently Asked Questions