Tasmanian Government and Eric Hutchinson

Tasmanian Government: Some exporters are bracing for fee hikes of nearly 800 per cent, according to Australian Broadcasting Corporation. DP World, which handles the largest amount of container traffic at the Port of Melbourne and is one of the world biggest stevedores, said if the rent increase went ahead, Melbourne would become the most expensive port in the world. Map: TAS The Tasmanian Government has referred fee hikes at the Port of Melbourne to the competition watchdog. Federal member for Lyons Eric Hutchinson is worried the extension of the Bass Strait freight subsidy to northbound goods destined for international markets would see more money end up in the Victorian Labor Government coffers rather than benefit Tasmanian businesses. Tasmanian freight accounts for more than a quarter of the port traffic. Tasmanian Treasurer Peter Gutwein has referred the matter to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission . "I wrote to the ACCC to raise my, this Government concerns with them that port fees wouldn't be increased to pump up the price - in effect pump prime - the sale price of the Port of Melbourne," Mr Gutwein said. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.