Source: https://www.fullyloaded.com.au/industry-news/1805/anti-infrastructure-surcharge-groups-unite?utm_source=atn_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article1_title&utm_campaign=23-05-2018&utm_term=list_fullyloaded_newsletter
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| Simon O'Hara |
Opponents of unilateral terminal access charging by stevedores have come together to push for change.
Road Freight NSW (RFNSW), the Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA), Western Roads Federation (WRF) and the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) have formed a coalition of transport industry stakeholders opposing the latest infrastructure surcharge imposed by stevedores on truck operators using Port Botany.
Hutchinson Ports Sydney will introduce an "infrastructure levy" of $10.45 for all laden import and export containers at the terminal from June 25.
The stevedore has blamed the new tax on "the high cost of additional equipment and infrastructure" and, like its rivals, says proceeds will be "used to provide and maintain an efficient terminal landside operation".
It means all three stevedores have now unilaterally slapped taxes on trucks receiving or delivering containers to the terminal, with DP World Australia (DPWA) increasing its surcharge to $37.65 and Patrick increasing its surcharge to $41.10.
RFNSW was "extremely disappointed" that Hutchinson had followed DPWA and Patrick "in another round of blatant price gouging", CEO Simon O'Hara says.
"The stevedores seem to introduce and increase their so-called infrastructure surcharges whenever they feel like it, using transport carriers as their ATMs," O'Hara says.
"With no intervention from government or the regulators, our members are easy targets, getting gouged by all three stevedores who are clearly using their market power to impose these unfair charges and cannot explain the purpose or the rationale behind them. It must stop."
The FTA reiterates its regulation call in response to the initial Hutchison announcement, underlining its belief certain state governments have abrogated their responsibilities in the matter.
"It is clear that container terminal operator pricing needs to be regulated to protect Australia's port users," FTA director Travis Brooks-Garrett says.
"That responsibility sits with our state governments who have privatised these essential and nationally important infrastructure assets."
ATA CEO Ben Maguire said the ATA has advocated for heavy vehicles to be subject to an independent regulator, such as the ACCC.
"The significant increases in landside port charges have burdened trucking operators, building unavoidable costs into Australia's supply chains," Maguire says.
"These charges have not been subject to detailed regulatory scrutiny, and apart from increasing profits it is unclear what the purpose the increases serve.
RFNSW, FTA, Western Roads Federation and the ATA have called on the ACCC or another independent body to urgently intervene and put a halt to the stevedores' ongoing port taxes before transport operators are run out of business.