Media Releases

The new biosecurity levy – smoke and mirrors, lies or spin?

This new tax is unfair, wrongly targeted and highly inefficient. It should be withdrawn.

Shipping Australia Limited is just one of many industry groups that are angry that the Federal Government will not take biosecurity seriously and is trying to double tax the shipping and import industries. This new tax makes imported goods more expensive for all Australians and eats into our export earnings too.

Strong biosecurity is essential for Australia. It supports our economy by protecting our...

https://shippingaustralia.com.au/the-new-biosecurity-levy-smoke-and-mirrors-lies-or-spin/

Industry groups reject flawed new biosecurity levy

Industry groups from a broad range of import, shipping, transport, manufacturing, energy and export sectors have had enough.

In a joint statement released today industry groups highlight the confusion over the need for the levy, especially now that industry is already paying an increasing proportion of Australia’s biosecurity costs.

They are also concerned that:

  • the implementation is rushed,
  • there has been no assessment of the flow-on costs to consumers, or
  • how the tax will impact Australia’s...

https://shippingaustralia.com.au/industry-groups-reject-flawed-new-biosecurity-levy/

Why the Government’s new biosecurity levy is wrong on all counts

The tariff war developing between USA and China seems to be hotting up.

As if Australia is trying to get in on the act, the new budget biosecurity levy, a broad-based tariff on all imports, looks very much like Australia’s first salvo in the global tariff war.

This is a tax on everything: building products, cement, fertiliser, fuel, cars and household goods, whether they present a biosecurity risk or not.  These items are essential to day to day life.

And it’s not even efficient revenue collection...

https://shippingaustralia.com.au/why-the-governments-new-biosecurity-tax-is-wrong-on-all-counts/

World Maritime Day 2018: Our Heritage – Better shipping for a better future

Today is World Maritime Day, a day when every one of us should take the time to recognise and celebrate the essential contribution of the maritime industry to the world’s development and prosperity.  This year is especially memorable as it coincides with the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention establishing the International Maritime Organisation.

Shipping Australia Limited Director Ken Fitzpatrick was proud to represent the international shipping industry at an AMSA celebratory...

https://shippingaustralia.com.au/world-maritime-day-2018-our-heritage-better-shipping-for-a-better-future/

NSW Freight and Ports Plan – the right direction but opportunities overlooked

The NSW Freight and Ports Plan has been generally welcomed by industry groups including the Australian Logistics Council and Ports Australia as a solid start to meeting the future demands of a growing freight task.

Shipping Australia recognises the strengths of the plan and congratulates the NSW Government for delivering a plan which includes measurable initiatives that will help to achieve key goals economic growth, efficiency, connectivity and access, capacity, safety and sustainability.

“It is...

https://shippingaustralia.com.au/nsw-freight-and-ports-plan-the-right-direction-but-opportunities-overlooked/

Joint Media Release – “Australia’s supply chain joins forces to challenge new levy”

The Australian Logistics Council, Australasian Railway Association, Ports Australia and Shipping Australia have today joined together to call for clarification of how the Biosecurity Levy, announced by the Australian Government in the Federal Budget last week, will operate. Particularly how the generated revenue will be spent.

The proposed Biosecurity Import Levy will charge $10.02 per incoming container and $1 per tonne of non-containerised cargo, generating an estimated revenue of $360 million.

https://shippingaustralia.com.au/australias-supply-chain-joins-forces-to-challenge-new-levy/

CFMEU/MUA strike at Qube Ports Melbourne disadvantages workers and families

The MUA has called a four-day strike for Qube Ports’ workers in Melbourne and Geelong from today after demanding unsustainable pay rises and failing to negotiate a new Enterprise Agreement with Qube Ports for more than two years.

Shipping Australia supports Qube Ports’ decision not to give in to the MUA’s unreasonable demands and have finally applied to have the old EBA set aside and return to the Award.  Our members label this second strike in three weeks as an unreasonable and a...

https://shippingaustralia.com.au/cfmeu-mua-strike-at-qube-ports-melbourne-disadvantages-workers-and-families/

Competition in Pilotage in Melbourne

International shipping is a highly competitive business, our members are accustomed to tough competition, and in principle they will always support the introduction of competition in pilotage and other services to shipping, provided that the market is large enough to economically sustain multiple operators and that safety standards are maintained.

I am very pleased to learn of the commencement of pilotage services in Melbourne by the Australian Pilotage Group (APG) and I am sure that many of our...

https://shippingaustralia.com.au/competition-pilotage-melbourne/

Winds of change in Liner Shipping

In January, the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) and the Trade Facilitation Group (TFG) Discussion Agreements were terminated.  This follows soon after the termination of the Australia and New Zealand – United States (ANZUSDA) Discussion Agreement at the end of December 2017.  This represents a monumental change to liner shipping in Australia.

The decision to terminate these selected Discussion Agreements (not consortia agreements) is significant given that conferences/DAs serving the North...

https://shippingaustralia.com.au/winds-change-liner-shipping/

The illegal picket at VICT Webb Dock terminal must be cleared…NOW!

MUA members are laying low, while CFMEU and other unions use social media to fuel the picket and hide under cowardly “community protest” cover to destroy Australian businesses and jobs – so what’s new?

The Victorian Supreme Court was satisfied enough of the MUA’s role that they granted a seven day injunction against MUA members from being within 100m of the VICT access gate, though there was insufficient evidence to include the CFMEU.

It seems that this has been ignored, union stooges and bullies...

https://shippingaustralia.com.au/illegal-picket-vict-webb-dock-terminal-must-clearednow/

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