NATIONAL NEWS

Watchdog to rule on Toll tilt for Perkins

THE WIDELY-anticipated plan by Toll Group to buy Perkins Shipping still needs Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) support to go ahead.

Harbour precinct may retain working role

THE NEW South Wales Government has flagged the need to keep Sydney’s Glebe Island and White Bay precincts for at least partial use as a working harbour, reports Sam Collyer.

Smart advice: move faster

IN THE five years to 2007, Australia not only shed market share but also lost billions of dollars in revenue across all bulk export commodities, a supply chain conference heard last week.

Taking the honours

SHIPPING Australia’s Captain Doug Bourne-Jones was among a host of personalities from the shipping, transport and logistics industries named in the Queen’s Birthday honours list last week.

Asciano banks on rights issue to deal with debt

ASCIANO was free to consider capital investments now that its debt concerns had been dealt with, chief executive Mark Rowsthorn said this week.

ANALYSIS: Riding the cycles

NEWS that Grand China Logistics is considering a new weekly container service between China and Australia (Lloyd’s List DCN, May 28, 2009) has been welcomed by some in the exporting community, who have been finding recent difficulty in securing northbound space at a price they like to pay.

Qantas Freight’s new NZ service

QANTAS Freight expected to launch a new freighter operation between Australia and New Zealand from this week if regulatory approval was gained.

Adelaide’s improved cruise terminal upgrade underway

A JOINT Flinders Ports-South Australian Government effort will see the passenger terminal at Port Adelaide’s Outer Harbour undergo a major revamp.

Cathay, Dragonair feeling the pinch

THE AMOUNT of air cargo and mail carried by Cathay Pacific Airways and its domestic subsidiary, Dragonair, dived in May as local and international demand weakened.

Sino-Global’s joint venture on hold

US-REGISTERED agency Sino-Global Shipping America and Australian coal firm Rocklands Richfield have put their bulk shipping joint venture on the back burner, the companies said last week.

Cathay chief to lead IATA

THE INTERNATIONAL Air Transport Association (IATA) has named Cathay Pacific Airways chief executive Tony Tyler as chairman of its board of governors for the next year.

Hunter coal chain wins accolade

THE HUNTER coal industry has won the inaugural New South Wales Government award for supply chain innovation.

Hunter coal chain wins accolade

THE HUNTER coal industry has won the inaugural New South Wales Government award for supply chain innovation.

Hunter coal chain wins accolade

THE HUNTER coal industry has won the inaugural New South Wales Government award for supply chain innovation.

Asian authorities could veto BHP-Rio alliance

CHINESE and Japanese competition regulators appear certain to attempt to intervene in the plan by BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto’s to jointly operate their lucrative Pilbara iron ore assets.

Super department for NSW transport

THE NEW South Wales Government is to create a single department to manage its transport and infrastructure strategy, encompassing ports, rail and road.

GrainCorp appoints new CFO

LISTED grain handler GrainCorp has named former Ridley Corp executive Ian Wilton its new chief financial officer.

Rail facing jobs black hole

THE RAIL industry is facing critical skills shortages in the near future at both ends of the employment spectrum. Less graduates and school leavers are choosing rail-based careers and up to 40% of the current rail workforce is expected to leave or retire in the next five years.

WestNet moves WA grain haulage to road

WESTERN Australia’s grain industry is preparing to move its freight task from rail to road because of a lack of support from the state and federal governments.

Road taskforce to discuss Botany benchmarks

THE PORT Botany Road Taskforce was to this week discuss proposed benchmarks for the port’s landside operation.