TREASURER Peter Gutwein says he has struck a deal the Victorian government that will ensure Tasmania’s interests are taken care of in the negotiations over fees at the Port of Melbourne. Tasmanian exporters have had urgent meetings with the state government after the port allegedly tried to raise rental costs by up to 800 per cent. Mr Gutwein said he had received assurances from Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas that legislation would soon be introduced that would look after Tasmania’s interests. ‘‘What I’ve been assured by Mr Pallas is that they don’t take Tasmania for granted, that they recognise the importance of our business through that port,’’ he said. ‘‘There will be legislation that will be introduced shortly and we’ll be able to see clearly in that legislation that Tasmania’s interests are going to be taken care of.’’ However, it is understood the Victorian government may direct the state-owned port to give special consideration to Tasmanian exporters in negotiations, instead of introducing formal legislation. Mr Gutwein said he had been joined by Premier Will Hodgman and Ports Minister Rene Hidding in putting pressure on the Victorian government. Tasmanian freight represents more than a quarter of the port’s business. Freight company DP World has said the port, which is due to be privatised, proposed raising its rental costs from $15 a square metre to $120 a square metre. Mr Gutwein said it was still open to the state to ask the National Competition Council to have the port declared, meaning there would be federal regulation of rent fees. Last week, Prime Minister Tony Abbott accused the Victorian government of ‘‘ripping off Tasmanian exporters’’. Opposition Leader Bryan Green will meet Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews today.
TREASURER Peter Gutwein says he has struck a deal the Victorian government that will ensure Tasmania’s interests are taken care of in the negotiations over fees at the Port of Melbourne.
Tasmanian exporters have had urgent meetings with the state government after the port allegedly tried to raise rental costs by up to 800 per cent.
Mr Gutwein said he had received assurances from Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas that legislation would soon be introduced that would look after Tasmania’s interests.
‘‘What I’ve been assured by Mr Pallas is that they don’t take Tasmania for granted, that they recognise the importance of our business through that port,’’ he said.
‘‘There will be legislation that will be introduced shortly and we’ll be able to see clearly in that legislation that Tasmania’s interests are going to be taken care of.’’
However, it is understood the Victorian government may direct the state-owned port to give special consideration to Tasmanian exporters in negotiations, instead of introducing formal legislation.
Mr Gutwein said he had been joined by Premier Will Hodgman and Ports Minister Rene Hidding in putting pressure on the Victorian government.
Tasmanian freight represents more than a quarter of the port’s business.
Freight company DP World has said the port, which is due to be privatised, proposed raising its rental costs from $15 a square metre to $120 a square metre.
Mr Gutwein said it was still open to the state to ask the National Competition Council to have the port declared, meaning there would be federal regulation of rent fees.
Last week, Prime Minister Tony Abbott accused the Victorian government of ‘‘ripping off Tasmanian exporters’’.
Opposition Leader Bryan Green will meet Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews today.
