The Treasurer today announced that the Productivity Commission will undertake a public inquiry of the current arrangements for containerised and bulk shipping for Tasmania.
The Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme, introduced in 1976, and the Tasmanian Wheat Freight Scheme, introduced in 2004 to replace the previous scheme, aim to assist in alleviating the freight cost disadvantage incurred by shippers of eligible goods moved between the Australian mainland and Tasmania by sea.
The schemes have been subject to regular review and a number of changes over time, however it is timely for a major inquiry with the aim of developing more efficient long term solutions.
The inquiry will examine the effectiveness of the subsidy scheme arrangements as a mechanism for addressing freight cost disadvantage to Tasmania, taking into account the costs and benefits of the arrangements.
The Australian Government has consulted with the Tasmanian Government in formulating the Terms of Reference for the review, given the significance of the schemes to the Tasmanian economy.
The Productivity Commission will shortly release an issues paper and invite expressions of interest from anyone wanting to participate in the review. Anyone with interest in the inquiry is encouraged to make a submission to the Commission.
The Terms of Reference for the inquiry are attached. Further information about the inquiry is available from the Productivity Commission at www.pc.gov.au or by phone 02 6240 3239.
Terms of Reference
INQUIRY INTO THE SUBSIDISATION OF CONTAINERISED AND BULK SHIPPING BETWEEN THE MAINLAND AND TASMANIA
Productivity Commission Act 1998
I, CHRIS PEARCE, Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, pursuant to Parts 2 and 3 of the Productivity Commission Act 1998, hereby refer the current arrangements for subsidising containerised and bulk shipping between the mainland and Tasmania to the Commission for inquiry and report within nine months of receipt of this reference. The Commission is to hold hearings for the purpose of the inquiry.
Background
- The Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme (TFES) was introduced in 1976. The Government’s objective was to establish a cost equalisation scheme to alleviate the freight cost disadvantage incurred by shippers of eligible non-bulk goods moved between the mainland and Tasmania by sea. Since its introduction, the TFES and its subsidy rates have undergone review on several occasions, in particular in 1985 and 1998. A key recommendation of the 1998 review of TFES was that the key assistance parameters for TFES should be reviewed annually and indexation adjustments applied as sea freight disadvantage changed over time.
- The Tasmanian Wheat Freight Subsidy Scheme (TWFSS) was introduced in 1989, coinciding with the deregulation of the Australian domestic wheat market and replacing the Tasmanian Wheat Freight Levy which had existed since 1959. In the 2004-05 Budget, the TWFSS was ceased with eligibility criteria for the TFES being extended to include containerised shipments of wheat. The Government subsequently introduced the Tasmanian Wheat Freight Scheme (TWFS) for bulk wheat shipments from 1 July 2004, with containerised wheat to remain eligible for assistance via the TFES.
- The Government wishes to undertake an independent review of these arrangements to consider the extent of the continuing benefits as well as costs of these schemes.
Scope of Inquiry
- The Commission is to report on the merits and weaknesses of the current arrangements for subsidising containerised and bulk shipping between the mainland and Tasmania and provide recommendations on an appropriate future approach and/or arrangements.
- In making assessments in relation to matters in paragraph 4, the report of the Commission should:
- Report on the characteristics of the freight task for containerised and bulk goods between Tasmania and the mainland of Australia, including a comparison with the freight task between regional centres and metropolitan centres on the mainland and related costs.
- Quantify any comparative freight cost disadvantage for goods eligible under the TFES and the TWFS, identify its primary causes and assess the impact of that freight cost disadvantage on Tasmanian business in terms of the cost of business inputs and access to markets on the mainland.
- Assess the effectiveness of the current scheme arrangements as a mechanism for addressing any freight cost disadvantage, including identification of the costs and benefits, the impact on stakeholders, and any unintended consequences or distortionary effects of the current arrangements.
- Identify any alternative mechanisms that could more effectively address any freight cost disadvantage, including assessing the full economic costs and benefits of any alternative mechanisms.
- In undertaking the inquiry, the Commission is to advertise nationally, consult with key interest groups and affected parties, and produce a report.
- The Government will consider the Commission’s recommendations, and the Government’s response will be announced as soon as possible after the receipt of the Commission’s report.