The statement below is attributable to a Port of Newcastle spokesperson:
Port of Newcastle (PON) again welcomes the revocation of the declaration of service at the Port of Newcastle as it did in 2015.
PON has long maintained the view that the Port should never have been declared and that the NCC’s original recommendation in 2015 was sound, as was the then Acting Treasurer’s decision to support the NCC’s decision.
PON’s pricing remains competitive with other Australian and international ports. It is in our interest to ensure our pricing remains competitive to encourage the growth of all trades through the Port.
The NCC’s recommendations have been consistently founded on robust legal and economic arguments for its recommendations in 2015 and 2019.
The outcome is consistent with the intent of the legislation as originally envisaged by the Productivity Commission and re-endorsed by the Australian Parliament in 2017.
PON agrees with the NCC’s view and we remain focused on operating the largest port on the East Coast of Australia as an efficient global trade gateway contributing more than $1.6 billion to the Lower Hunter economy and 9,000 local jobs per annum.