The Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA) and Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) have thanked Stephen King (Productivity Commissioner) for his detailed presentation and participation in the panel discussion with Mick Keogh [Deputy Chair, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)] at the APSA Conference in Wagga Wagga on 31 August 2022.

During his presentation, Stephen stated that he was in a position, prior to the release of the Commission's draft report on Australia's Maritime Logistics System, to only speak about what he had heard during the consultation process in preparing the report. The subsequent release of the draft report on 9 September 2022 clearly demonstrated that the PC has not only heard our concerns expressed during our engagement, but have also responded positively with well-considered recommendations, largely aligned to those outlined in the below FTA / APSA submissions and recent recent media commentaries as outlined below: FTA / APSA submission to the Productivity Commission - 11 Feb 2022  MEDIA RELEASE - Peak Trade Alliance calls for broad ranging reform FTA / APSA supplementary submission (Terminal Access Charges) Supplementary FTA/APSA submission (Container Detention) Supplementary FTA/APSA submission (Landside Congestion) MEDIA RELEASE (COST OF LIVING AND INFLATIONARY PRESSURES – A NEED FOR SHIPPING REGULATION) Supplementary FTA/APSA submission (Shipping Competition Review) SKY NEWS (Business Weekend) - Container Detention & Terminal Access Charges - interview starts at 22:28 and concludes 24.58 DCN - INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS IN SHIPPING COMPETITION PROTECTIONS JOC - AUSTRALIAN COMMISSION CALLS FOR END TO CARRIERS' ANTITRUST IMMUNITY The PC draft report and recommendations are available HERE

FTA / APSA RESPONSE AND NEXT STEPS

In response, FTA / APSA have provided a formal response to the draft recommendations and will present findings at a public hearing on 4 November 2022. The FTA / APSA focus remains on key policy areas including: the need for a review of shipping competition; minimum service levels and notification periods; infrastructure investment, regulation of Terminal Access Charges; regulation of container detention practices (import and export); waterfront industrial relations reform; and implementation of Biosecurity reform priorities.  FTA / APSA response to the draft PC report available HERE FTA / APSA media release available HERE The Productivity Commission is scheduled to provide a final report to the Federal Government by December 2022. Please reach out to me direct at avinson@FTAlliance.com.au or on 0420 589 534 to contribute to this vitally important advocacy activity.  Tony Vinson - Head of International Freight and Logistics - FTA / APSA