The Tasmanian Government notes the tabling in the Victorian Parliament of the Delivering Victorian Infrastructure (Port of Melbourne Lease Transaction) Bill 2015.
We welcome that the Bill provides for Victoria’s independent economic regulator, the Essential Services Commission, to oversee the pricing structure for port users, and would also cap annual tariff increases at the rate of Consumer Price Index rises.
At first glance, the legislation appears to be broadly in line with the assurances we received from the Victorian Government that Tasmanian exporters and shippers will not be unfairly disadvantaged by its move to lease the Port of Melbourne.
However, it is crucial that negotiations between the port and our shippers are restarted and that they reach an acceptable commercial outcome as soon as possible. This remains a key concern.
In discussions with our Victorian counterparts, the Premier, the Treasurer and I made very clear that Tasmania would not accept our industries having to pay the price of the move to privatise the port.
We look forward to considering the legislation in more detail and consulting further with Tasmanian shipping companies.