Don Randall (Canning, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Energy and Resources) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to support the motion tabling the report on Australia’s coastal shipping industry, Rebuilding Australia’s coastal shipping industry: inquiry into coastal shipping policy and regulation, recently completed by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. The report was commissioned by the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, the Hon. Anthony Albanese MP, on 12 March 2008 to inquire into and report on coastal shipping policy and regulation by October 2008. The committee has thoroughly investigated this matter in accordance with the relevant terms of reference, receiving 81 submissions from 66 interested parties. Public hearings were held in Brisbane, Canberra, Perth, Adelaide, Launceston, Melbourne and Sydney in which 78 witnesses appeared before the committee.

The report makes a series of recommendations in accordance with the terms of reference on ways to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of the Australian coastal shipping sector. These recommendations include the further examination of an optional tonnage tax, the reimplementation of accelerated depreciation requirements, enhanced skills recognition and training coordination, and a number of recommendations to improve the competitiveness of vessels operating under licences under part IV of the Navigation Act, as opposed to vessels operating under single voyage or continuous voyage permits. Many of the stakeholders in the Australian shipping industry that have been consulted list these issues as being at the forefront of the challenges facing the Australian coastal shipping industry. As such, it is extremely important that they are addressed to enhance the competitiveness of the Australian shipping industry and to reinvigorate and revive the industry.

As a new member of the Standing Committee on Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, I look forward to a continuing dialogue with a number of stakeholders in this area to develop many of these issues further. I commend the committee members on their thorough approach in conducting this report, particularly the committee chair, Catherine King MP, and the deputy chair, Paul Neville. I thank the House.

See this speech in context