Victorian industry workers unite to fight freight infrastructure charge

Victorian employers, truckers and farmers have united to fight the freight infrastructure charge that has yet to be ruled out by the Baillieu Government.

“Victoria’s small business exporters are doing it tough already with the floods, a higher Australian dollar, higher energy and water prices, and a looming carbon tax,” said Victorian Employers’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI) chief executive officer Wayne Kayler-Thomson.

 “In the face of this, the Baillieu Government has not ruled out introducing an export and import container tax at our main international trade hub, the Port of Melbourne.

 “This tax will simultaneously hurt Victoria’s international trade competitiveness and jack up grocery and essential goods prices for Victorian consumers, as well as prices of imported inputs for Victorian manufacturers and builders.

“The Freight Infrastructure Charge (FIC) was proposed by the previous Labor Government and was set to take effect in the second half of 2011.

“The charge was mooted at anywhere between $140 to $180 per truck entering the international container terminals at the Port of Melbourne. With trucks carrying an average of two containers, this represents an overnight doubling of the Port of Melbourne’s wharfage and channel deepening charges.

“Since their election, we have asked the Coalition to act on their opposition to the charge and rule it out – this has not yet happened,” warned Mr Kayler-Thomson.

Victorian Transport Association CEO, Philip Lovel AM, notes that “The charge was dressed up by the previous government as a productivity measure to encourage road transport operators to change behaviour and access the international container terminals at night and on the weekends.”

Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) president Andrew Broad said he is concerned by the impact of the Charge on the farm sector and regional Victoria.

“Agriculture is export reliant and needs low cost and efficient supply chains to compete internationally. The introduction of an export tax will threaten this competitiveness,” he said.

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