In Port News 07/03/2016
The multibillion-dollar long-term lease of the Port of Melbourne has again been thrown into doubt, with the Opposition rejecting critical amendments.
Over the past week there have been continuing negotiations over the port sale legislation.
“I don’t know if the Treasurer is going to have another rock-hard deadline drop-dead date on Thursday or not.
Mr Pallas said the government would continue to work towards “delivering on the commitments that we have made to Victorians: leasing the port, removing level crossings and creating thousands of jobs.”
Australian Industry Group Victorian director Tim Piper said a decision was needed to create certainty with business.“We remain of the opinion that this matter needs to be agreed,” Mr Piper said.“We recognise both parties are working towards the best interests of the state but there must be a reasonable solution given that both parties have come so far.”
With Parliament resuming on Tuesday, and hope of a bill needed to sell the port to finally pass, Nationals leader Peter Walsh said the opposition was not happy with all amendments the government had provided and had asked for further work to be done.
Despite a “rock-hard” deadline set last sitting week by Treasurer Tim Pallas the bill was not voted on with the government backing down on its opposition to the Coalition’s request for only a 15-year compensation clause.
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“The amendments particularly around the competitive neutrality clause don’t actually match what the government has been saying the intent is,” Mr Walsh said.
“The ball is in the government’s court.”
At stake is billions of dollars in revenue earmarked by the Andrews government to pay for the level crossings removal project. It has warned that without legislation the value of the lease will be diminished.
There is growing frustration among the business community about the lack of progress on the port sale, which both parties supported at the 2014 election.
Source: The Age
