A special tax rate applies to other isolated regions of Australia and indeed the pursuit of this rate is among recommendations of the KI Study.

A tax break would provide not only an incentive for skilled workers to come here but also compensate tax-paying residents for the costs and inconvenience of travelling to and from the mainland and the associated increased living costs on Kangaroo Island. Perhaps some other mechanism could compensate those on pensions and fixed incomes.

While income tax is a federal matter, State Government employees already receive an allowance for working on Kangaroo Island, so parity would be another argument for consideration.

A concessional tax rate might help in attracting doctors and so avoid a looming crisis in medical services.

We’ve had it pretty good on the medical front on Kangaroo Island recently.

Since obstetric services were reinstated almost two years ago, we have had a full complement of young and capable doctors with a broad range of skills and experience.

Other rural communities throughout Australia have had to suffer chronic shortages of doctors and the closure or downgrading of their local hospitals.

While other regional areas suffer similar issues in attracting doctors, the isolation of Kangaroo Island and its huge influx of tourists, especially over the summer holidays when accidents and emergencies increase, warrants special attention.

So again, Kangaroo Island must plead its special case to the relevant ministers and work for a resolution to what is shaping as a real issue for the island.