Clockwise from top left: Paul Zalai (FTA/APSA); Ron Grasso (NTC), Tony Vinson (FTA/APSA); John Park (FTA/APSA); Neil Chambers (CTAA); Mohit Patiyal (NTC) - bottom right Sal Milici (FTA/APSA)
As members will recall and as determined at the Ministers at the Infrastructure and Transport Ministers meeting held on Friday 20 November, the National Transport Commission (NTC) was instructed to lead reform and the development of 'voluntary national guidelines' to apply to stevedore infrastructure and access charges (both their introduction and increase) at Australia's container ports - further background detail available HERE
FTA / APSA RESPONSE TO THE NTC
As highlighted in our advocacy to the Victorian government, FTA / APSA expressed serious concern that any voluntary monitoring process will mean that stevedores will continue to receive revenue from the transport sector with the minor inconvenience in the form of another level of bureaucracy before implementing each increase. Continuation of such voluntary performance arrangements also poses the significant risk of giving tacit approval to this unwarranted cost recovery method on third parties.
FTA / APSA also noted that empty container parks are also rapidly increasing their charges on transport operators following the lead from stevedores that has clearly demonstrated a very effective model to collect revenue from vehicle booking systems rather than negotiating increases with commercial clients.
FTA / APSA recommended that the scope of the NTC review be expanded to examine the potential of regulation to force stevedores (and empty container parks) to cost recover directly against their commercial client (shipping line) rather than via third party transport operators. - The formal FTA / APSA response to the NTC is available HERE
- A full list of terminal access charges nationally is available HERE (FTA / APSA MEMBER LOGIN REQUIRED)
WA RESPONSE TO TERMINAL ACCESS CHARGES
Fremantle Ports has concluded negotiations with Patrick and DP World for new leases over the two existing container terminals - we understand from the associated media release that contractual arrangements include an agreed structure on access charges. FTA / APSA will continue engagement with the key stakeholders to identify further detail on how in practice this measure translates to a charging structure that provides price certainty for WA shippers. |
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