ASA welcomes transport focus of 2006 Budget

The 2006 Budget has delivered a much needed focus on transport, and the infrastructure to deliver efficient links between regional Australia, capitals and the ports, according to the Australian Shipowners Association. The new road and rail initiatives would enable road and rail to better deliver cargo to ports and shipping, relieving traffic congestion and improving safety in the regions and cities, it said. &#8220The focus on transport recognises the growing freight task in Australia,&#8221 ASA’s Canberra director Trevor Griffett said today (Wednesday, May 10). "Australia’s shipping lanes require no infrastructure investment, and the additional $5.0bn directed to the land and rail sectors will assist getting freight to ports more efficiently," he said. "Transport minister Warren Truss has rightly identified that long-term plans must be identified to satisfy transport needs within strategic corridors and this Budget highlights the priorities in meeting those needs." The 2006 Budget allocated additional funding that will take AusLink spending on transport to $15.0bn. This spending coincides with strategic corridor studies, covering all the major transport routes, to be completed by July 2007. Mr Griffett said ship owners and operators had welcomed the "corridor" approach to infrastructure funding which considers all modes of transport &#8211 including shipping &#8211 in identifying the most efficient transport solutions for infrastructure funding. The industry also welcomed the moratorium on shipping levy increases in 2006&#4707 that Mr Truss declared on May 5, he said. The introduction of new emergency towing arrangements would potentially cost the industry at least $13m. This would have been recovered through shipping levy payments, which are administered by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA). "The shipping industry has long supported AMSA and its efforts to achieve efficiencies. Mr Truss is now repaying that support by freezing the shipping levy over the next year," Mr Griffett said. &#8220While the industry is certain to contribute to the recovery of the cost of the new arrangements after this period, the freezing or removal of any industry levy is welcome. "Historically, the shipping industry has laboured under far too many levies." Initially, AMSA will meet the costs of implementing the new towage arrangements from accumulated surpluses and cash reserves without increasing shipping levies next financial year. "This is a positive statement to the shipping industry," Mr Griffett said. "ASA looks forward to the removal of other shipping industry levies in the future."

No Results