Stevedore Patrick says the money it raises from charging importers and exporters fees to move containers in and out of its ports does not fully offset the money it invests in improving infrastructure, as wharfies prepare to strike in Sydney and Melbourne over pay and conditions. The Maritime Workers' Union has claimed that the surge in Patrick's annual profits was obtained by "price gouging" through terminal access charges and other shipping fees, arguing it had raised the cost of goods for Australians. Patrick delivered an annual net profit of $25.6 million in the year to June 30, reversing a $15.7 million loss in the year earlier period. In return for the use of our collated data on Terminal Access Charges, we are grateful to the AFR for showcasing our advocacy and need for reform in the charging regime.The Freight and Trade Alliance, which represents importers and exporters, has asked the National Transport Commission to consider regulation to force stevedores to recover infrastructure costs from shipping lines, rather than from transport operators. "It is an abuse of market power and unreasonable to impose a charge on a party that has no say; cannot negotiate the charge and cannot go elsewhere to receive and deliver containers," the FTA said in its submission to the commission, which is developing national guidelines on charges.
Stay tuned for more developments !!
Paul Zalai - Director FTA | Secretariat APSA | Director GSF |