2018 Review of the Port Access and Pricing Regime

The purpose of the review of the ports access and pricing regime is to assess the need for and effectiveness of the regime, and whether any changes are recommended. The 2018 Ports Access and Pricing Review Final Report is the first review of the regime since it commenced, and represents the findings and recommendations of the Commission.

Status: final

  1. Initiate
  2. Consultation
  3. Draft
  4. Consultation
  5. Final

The 2018 Ports Access and Pricing Review Final Report was delivered to the Minister in November 2018 and was tabled in the Legislative Assembly in early 2019. All subsequent reviews are required to be completed every five years.

Service area:
Ports
Released:
22 Feb 2018

The Commission is required to periodically review the access and pricing regime and deliver a report to the Minister. The review assesses whether the regime is fit for purpose and determines whether:

  • there is an ongoing need for regulatory oversight of access to, and pricing of, prescribed services provided by the private port operator
  • there is a need to change the form of regulatory oversight of access, and if so, how
  • whether there is a need to change the form of regulatory oversight of pricing, and if so, how
  • whether amendments should be made to the access and pricing regime, and if so, the nature of those amendments.

The first review was due in November 2018, three years after the introduction of the regime, and commenced with the release of an Issues Paper in early 2018. The Commission consulted with stakeholders and received six submissions, which informed the Draft Report.

The Commission released its Draft Report in August 2018, again seeking feedback form stakeholders. The Commission received four submissions which were taken into consideration in the preparation of its Final Report.

The Commission found there was an ongoing need for regulatory oversight, but that the form of regulation for both access and pricing should remain the same until the next review. However, the Commission identified several deficiencies in the current regime and recommended a number of amendments to the Ports Management Act 2015 and Ports Management Regulations 2015 to ensure the regime is effective, fit for purpose and better meets its legislative objectives, whilst maintaining the cost effectiveness of the regime.

Any changes to the regime are purely a decision for Government and Parliament.

Related documents

Initiate

2018 Ports Access and Pricing Review – Issues Paper

Consultation

ConocoPhillips and Stakeholders submission – Review of the Regime Issues Paper

Darwin Port Operations Pty Ltd submission  – Review of the Regime Issues Paper

INPEX Operations Australia Pty Ltd submission – Review of the Regime Issues Paper

Maritime Union of Australia submission  – Review of the Regime Issues Paper

Attachment - Maritime Union of Australia Planning for the Future: Agenda for Safer Ports and Ships in the Northern Territory – Review of the Regime Issues Paper

Svitzer submission – Review of the Regime Issues Paper

Verdant Minerals Ltd submission – Review of the Regime Issues Paper

Draft

2018 Ports Access and Pricing Review - Draft Report

Consultation

Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC) submission – Review of the Regime Draft Report

Darwin Port Operations Pty Ltd submission – Review of the Regime Draft Report

INPEX Operations Australia Pty Ltd submission – Review of the Regime Draft Report

Northern Territory Department of the Chief Minister submission – Review of the Regime Draft Report

Final

2018 Ports Access and Pricing Review – Final Report