NSW port supply chain Bill back in without a fight

The New South Wales Government yesterday reintroduced the unamended Ports and Administration Bill to the Legislative Assembly and the opposition failed to put up its promised fight. The legislation is a radical attempt to restructure the state’s ports and supply chains, attempting to integrate all facets of the industry for greater cooperation. The Government hopes greater communication in the supply chain will solve its congestion issues. NSW shadow ports minister Duncan Gay had recently told Lloyd’s List DCN the Government would have a &#33127 fight on its hands &#33128 if it attempted to reintroduce the Bill unchanged. Andrew Fraser, deputy leader of the Nationals, confirmed in Parliament that the opposition would not oppose the Bill, but voiced concerns in relation to the legislation’s tough new powers. Mr Fraser said while some of the legislation’s objectives were designed to get the ports moving again, it would be unwise to confer all of the powers in the Bill on the NSW ports minister. &#33127 If we grant the minister authority to regulate each and every element of port-related supply chains &#33123 industry bodies will object &#8211 irrespective of who holds the portfolio, &#33128 Mr Fraser said in his opening remarks. &#33127 The opposition does not believe that a minister for ports should have such wide authority. &#33128 The tabling of the unchanged legislation came amid a heavy industry backlash this week from the shipping industry. Shipping Australia Limited chief executive Llew Russell told the Australian Financial Review yesterday that the legislation was extremely broad and a long way off from the &#33127 light touch &#33128 industry had expected. Mr Tripodi said the purpose of the Bill was to introduce a new framework to encourage efficiency and productivity in the port and port-related supply chains. &#33127 The proposed reforms are expected to deliver considerable benefits to industry through greater competition, improved services and greater efficiencies at New South Wales ports and along the supply chains servicing them, &#33128 he said. &#33127 New objectives and functions for the port corporations will enable them to facilitate industry improvements to port and supply chain efficiencies. &#33127 The Bill also provides for the Government to create regulations at the landside interface at the port and supply chain facilities to improve the performance of the supply chain should voluntary action by industry fall short of the required improvements. &#33128 Mr Tripodi has been describing the legislation, formed in the wake of two key reports, as taking a &#33127 carrot and a stick &#33128 approach to problems facing Sydney’s congested supply chains. He has on numerous occasions reassured the freight community that the changes to the supply chain would be industry driven. If the industry was unable to fix the congestion problems itself, then the legislation’s new powers would be used as motivation. Mr Tripodi said he was aware of industry concerns regarding the Bill. He reminded that the legislation complied with the Government’s &#33127 Guide to Better Regulation &#33128 , which was developed by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal. &#33127 The scope of the regulations is appropriate and limited to the landside interface at the port and supply chain facilities, and the supply chain between these facilities, &#33128 he said. The Bill was agreed to in-principle by the Assembly and passed on to the Legislative Council for further debate.

No Results