INCREASED CHARGES - EFFECTIVE 1 JANUARY 2020
Further increases to stevedore-imposed Infrastructure Surcharges / Terminal Access Charges came into effect on 1 January 2020 at DP World Australia (DPWA) and VICT terminals.
A full list of national charges is available HERE (FTA / APSA LOGIN REQUIRED)
DP WORLD SNUB NSW GOVERNMENT WARNING
Of most significant note was the action from DPWA, snubbing the warning from the Hon. Andrew Constance, NSW Minister for Transport who on 13 December 2019 publicly stated that it would be completely unacceptable for stevedores to increase their Infrastructure Surcharges anytime soon.
"This is a critical time for our agricultural exporters as they face unprecedented drought conditions. Our farmers and their communities are doing it tough, and they deserve as much help as we can give them now and into the future" – refer HERE for further detail.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS FURTHER IMPACTING EXPORTERS
As an extended approach to our advocacy, Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) has also contacted the Senator the Hon. Bridget McKenzie following on from the Minister for Agriculture's media release from 3 January 2020 highlighting the impacts on farmers who have been hard hit by the bush fires.
While acknowledging that the Minister is not in a postion to directly intervene, we have clearly brought to her attention (and that of fellow industry members of Biosecurity Futures advisory group) the operational impacts of the rapidly increasing port related access charges on our local remaining manufacturers, farmers and export-focussed agriculture sectors that continue to face extreme environmental conditions.
ESCALATION OF ADVOCACY ACTIVITY
FTA and the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA) have now shared with State and Federal governments the following member correspondence and will continue our engagement with trade and mainstream media to give extended awareness on this matter.
APSA - Fletcher International Exports
APSA - Kelly Grains
APSA - Riordan Grain Services
APSA - Wilmar Gavilon
APSA – Malteurop Australia
NEXT STEPS
FTA, APSA and the Container Transport Alliance Australia (CTAA) have been assured by advisors of the Hon. Melissa Horne, Victorian Minister for Ports, that we will receive early engagement on the Port Pricing and Access Review commissioned by the Victorian Government to examine specific matters such as stevedore-imposed Infrastructure Surcharges and the Port of Melbourne's proposed increased tariff on all full import containers to fund the Port Rail Transformation Project.
In parallel, we are also scheduled to again meet with Peter Achterstraat AM, the NSW Productivity Commissioner, on 17 February in Sydney. |
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