THE North Stradbroke Island Chamber of Commerce is expected to vote on a motion of no confidence in its chairman David Thomson at a special meeting set for May 25.
The motion was added to the meeting agenda after some chamber members claimed Mr Thomson had conflicting interests and should not be chair while general manager of Transit Systems, which owns Stradbroke Ferries.
At the April chamber meeting, members questioned Mr Thomson about this month's overhaul of the barge ticket pricing system.
Under the chamber's constitution, its chairman has a legal fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of its 100 members.
Six of the chamber's nine-member executive wanted proof the new flexible barge fare system was in the best interests of the island and its businesses.
The five-tier structure offers standard, one-way fares of $95, $85, $75, $65 and $55 with a Saturday special of $49.50.
Those fares attract a $5 discount if booked online and are also discounted for island residents.
The pricing structure is based on airline fares and trips at low-demand times are cheaper but those in peak-demand times, such as on New Year's Day, are $95.
The restructure abolished many discounted barge fares including those for holiday accommodation providers and a $69 Shopper Day ticket for residents.
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TRANSIT Systems general manager David Thomson, chairman of the North Stradbroke Island Chamber of Commerce for three terms, said members were entitled to change the chairman whenever they wished.
He said the barge company had offered the accommodation provider a 17.5 per cent sales commission if they chose to sell barge tickets as part of their package.
"Every person on the chamber is a business owner or proprietor on the island - so they all have the potential to have a conflict of interest," he said. "It is not a right for accommodation providers to get hefty discounts from the barge company. Straddie Ferries clamped down on residents abusing the system. Now only individuals, and not businesses, are eligible for resident discounts."
Mr Thomson will be allowed to remain a member of the chamber and will still be a member of its executive if removed as chairman.
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STRADDIE resident Karen Garrett said now the Shopper Day fare was gone, the cheapest return fare for residents was $78.
"Claims the new structure is more flexible are wrong as residents wanting to get the cheapest day return fare are confined to going home on the 5pm barge," she said.
"I can't see how this fare structure is promoting business on the island when residents are spending money on the mainland while waiting for return trips."
She was so incensed the new fares were introduced without public consultation, she started a petition in April, which has 1100 signatures online and on paper.
AMENDED May 5 at 12pm: Ms Garrett said there were 1490 signatures.
Straddie holiday accommodation provider Ian Robinson said Straddie Ferries had also withdrawn a heavily discounted $106 return barge fare for accommodation providers.
Instead, the barge company has offered accommodation providers a 17.5 per cent discount this year, allowing Straddie Ferries to recoup the full rack rate for all tourists.
That discount will drop to 10 per cent over the next three years, when Mr Robinson said it would no longer be viable for accommodation providers to take barge bookings as part of a holiday package.
Mr Robinson also said the ferry company failed to pass on any savings to customers after the carbon tax was scrapped and from low diesel prices. "I have real concerns about the introduction of two new fares of $95 and $85, above the former $75 fare," Mr Robinson said.
"Accommodation operators have no issue with the introduction of a flexible fare structure and lower fares during non-peak times to increase visitors.
"But fares should be capped at $75 and then the barge company would find its revenue will increase with more customers.
"By putting up its prices, there is a risk of deterring to the island and accommodation operators are the ones affected the most - not the barge company."
Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Cameron Costello said there was concern the higher prices would deter campers.
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