Enhancements to the Victorian Voluntary Pricing Protocol for Container Terminal Operators
Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) and the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA) would like to express appreciation to Freight Victoria and the Department of Transport and Planning for responding to our advocacy and progressing initiatives to minimise the adverse impact of rapidly increasing stevedore-imposed Terminal Access Charges.
While the below enhancements to the Voluntary Pricing Protocol (VPP) are welcomed, FTA and APSA will continue its advocacy nationally for stronger well-considered regulation and the implementation of Mandatory Protocols (applicable to both stevedores and empty container parks).
While a further detailed member update will be provided, the below provides details of the latest VPP enhancements:
Enhancements to the Victorian Voluntary Pricing Protocol for Container Terminal Operators
The Voluntary Pricing Protocol has been updated. First introduced in 2020 as a non-regulatory approach to improve transparency and communication between container terminal operators, government and industry in relation to terminal price changes, the Minister for Ports and Freight, Melissa Horne MP, has approved two new measures for inclusion in the Victorian Voluntary Pricing Protocol (VPP).
Enhancements to the VPP
Following further feedback from industry participants, the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) has introduced two enhancements to the VPP to build on the success of the arrangement and further promote transparency and administrative alignment. All stevedores have been consulted on this change.
- Introduce a standard submission template for container terminal operators to provide greater levels of granular data in a consistent format in relation to changes to the terminal access fee/infrastructure fee. This will remain confidential to DTP and will support our understanding of how infrastructure fees are calculated, and change, over time.
- Request that all stevedores voluntarily change landside pricing once per year on 1 January, commencing from 1 January 2025.
DTP has proposed these enhancements to the VPP to continue strengthening the voluntary approach, whilst also responding to some of the recommendations from the Productivity Commission's Maritime Inquiry report to align stevedore price changes to a single date to improve cargo owners' ability to plan for these changes.
Implementation of the updated VPP
The updated VPP is now available on the DTP website. Below are the proposed timings of future price changes for stevedores adopting the VPP:
- Price changes will come into effect on 1 January 2025 and annually thereafter.
- The 60-day notice to industry and DTP would be issued Friday 1 November 2024.
- The 30-day notice to industry would be issued on Monday 2 December 2024.
For more information please the Voluntary Pricing Protocol web page.
Tom Jensen - Head of International Freight & Logistics - FTA / APSA
Copyright © 2024 Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) Pty Ltd, All rights reserved.