NATIONAL NEWS

Brisbane battle lines drawn over car charges

THE BATTLE between the motor industry and Australian Amalgamated Terminals (AAT) looks set to settle into a war of attrition after salvos were traded this week.

Tit-for-tat in state-of-origin coal contest

QUEENSLAND Rail (QR) and Pacific National (PN) have continued their double-fronted war, each securing lucrative coal haulage contracts in the last week.

Newcastle access success just the start

NEW South Wales ports minister Joe Tripodi has warned of a “long and difficult journey” ahead for other sectors of the state’s freight industry in the wake of long-term agreements reached for coal exports through the port of Newcastle.

Additional security charges draw questions and concern

SHIPPING Australia has requested a please explain to Newcastle Port Corporation following a decision last month to increase its security charge by 130%.

Trouble flagged over Rio shipping changes

THE UNCERTAIN future for crews aboard Rio Tinto’s superseded bauxite carriers was beginning to put the spotlight on federal transport minister Anthony Albanese’s much-anticipated coastal shipping reform plan.

Europe-Australia box trade in slide

CONTAINER imports from Europe to Australia fell almost 30% in April and May, European Liner Affairs Association (ELAA) figures show.

National freight volumes forecast to surge by 2030

AUSTRALIA’S domestic freight task will grow to more than 1trn tonne kilometres by 2030 as local demand for goods and commodity exports support growth in road and rail transport, according to a government report.

NTC review boost for heavy vehicle reform

THE NATIONAL Transport Commission (NTC) has backed the Performance Based Standards (PBS) scheme for heavy vehicles following a review, chief executive Nick Dimopoulos said last week.

BHP chartering fails to remedy capesize woes

RENEWED chartering activity by mining giant BHP Billiton did nothing to stem the slide in capesize rates last week, as more vessels became available after congestion eased outside Chinese ports.

Small but fast forwarders

BRIAN Lovell’s article (Lloyds List DCN, July 2) on IATA e-freight highlights the growing international attention to paper-free air cargo.

Swire, governments move closer to resolution

OIL SPILL compensation negotiations between Swire Shipping and Australian governments were ongoing this week, though the Federal Government looks increasingly likely to pay for any shortfall between the insurance pay-out and the full clean-up bill from the Pacific Adventurer oil spill.

Ports like land plan

NEWCASTLE Port Corporation has finalised a two-year process that sees it take control of about 470 ha of land previously owned by various arms of the New South Wales Government.

WA looks for options after grain rail review raises queries

COSTS would outweigh the benefits of spending $800m repairing and maintaining Western Australia’s grain rail infrastructure, a Federal Government report released this week found.