Fight over port fee rises

PREMIER Will Hodgman is leading the fight against a rise in container charges at the Port of Melbourne which are expected to affect the cost of imported goods to Tasmania.

Stevedore DP World has announced an increase in fees at the West Swanson terminal from $49.20 a container to $85.30 from January 1, 2019.

“This is a very disappointing outcome and one which the Tasmanian Government specifically raised as a concern directly with the Victorian Government when they were planning to privatise the Port in 2015,” Mr Hodgman said.

“We will be writing to the Victorian Government asking them to rein in the excessive cost increases at the Port of Melbourne.”

“We will also write to the ACCC in relation to these charges, which I’m advised will impact approximately 11 per cent of Tasmanian international trade.”

Secretariat for the Tasmanian Logistics Committee Mike Brindley said the increased charges were not foreseen.

“It’s a charge that goes against the whole spirit of what we are trying to achieve, which is to increase our exports and provide economic growth in the Tasmanian business com- munity so it is very disappointing,” he said.

He said that Melbourne was Tasmania’s gateway for the feeder services provided by Toll, TT-Line and SeaRoad Holdings.

“Tasmanian exporters enjoy overnight service and the extension of the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme has supported that and now this is a one step back,” Mr Brindley said.

He said it was a charge exporters would have to absorb.

DP World said it understood the increase in fees and charges would attract some criticism.

“We do appreciate that this will be positioned as an effective doubling of the Infrastructure Access Charge. However, a financially healthy stevedoring industry is vital for the long-term economic wellbeing of Australia,” a spokesman for DP World Australia said.

“These charges should not impact transport operators as they can be passed through the supply chain, without a negative impact.”

Victorian Transport Association chief executive Peter Anderson said companies were asking the government to investigate the matter.

“Everybody is horrified but they can’t do anything about it,” he said.