Federal Member for Barker Tony Pasin and a staff member are receiving medical treatment after a boat incident during a visit to an oyster farm in Tasmania.
Tasmania Police say emergency services were called to Bakers Beach, north-west of Launceston, about 9.30am Thursday after a man fell overboard when an oyster barge struck a sandbar.
Police say the man became briefly trapped between the barge and the sandbar before being pulled back onboard by others and treated at the scene.
The injured man was taken to Launceston General Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Authorities have not identified whether the man who fell overboard was Mr Pasin or his staff member.
In a statement, Mr Pasin confirmed both he and a staff member were injured while undertaking Shadow Ministerial duties in Tasmania.
“My first priority is the welfare of my staff member,” Mr Pasin said.
“We are both receiving medical treatment and the appropriate notifications have been made to relevant authorities and family members contacted.”
He thanked first responders and those who assisted at the scene.
“I intend to remain in Tasmania to support my staff member and it would be inappropriate for me to comment further at this stage,” he said.
Mr Pasin, who represents the South Australian electorate of Barker and serves as the Coalition’s Shadow Minister Assisting for Fisheries and Forestry, had been touring the oyster farm before the incident occurred.
Tasmania Police say the group was returning from the tour when the accident happened.
WorkSafe Tasmania and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority have both been notified of the incident.
