The Port of Melbourne Lease Transaction Bill has passed through Victoria’s Legislative Assembly, the state’s lower house, despite strong opposition from the Coalition and Greens.
The Port of Melbourne Lease Transaction Bill will now make its way to the Legislative Council, the state’s upper house.
Labor said the long-term-lease proceeds would go to the Victorian Transport Fund (VTF) to be used to support the removal of Victoria’s 50 ‘worst’ level crossings, building the Melbourne Metro rail project, and the West Gate Distributor.
Opposition leader Matthew Guy announced earlier this week that the Liberal-Nationals would recommend an inquiry to the upper house, potentially stalling the lease which is due for passage early next year.
The Coalition are opposed to the Bill in its current form due to clauses that would likely create a long-term, private port monopoly that kills off the development of a second container port for 70 years, and would allow the government to regulate port prices.
“This bill will be a noose around the necks of Victorians for the next three generations,” shadow minister Michael O’Brien said.
“In previous incarnations Labor governments gave us the desalination plant disaster, the myki mess, the smart meter stuff-up and the pokies licensing lemon.
“We will not stand by while it adds this port rot to its list of financial disasters for Victoria.”
And Tasmania’s minister for infrastructure Rene Hidding said his government is likely to make a submission to any inquiry.
Tasmania relies heavily on the port and complains a price hike would undermine its competitiveness.
Meanwhile, Peter Van Duyn, a maritime and logistics scholar from Victoria University, said the opposition’s blocking of the legislation could leave a multi-billion dollar hole in the state budget.