Ports
Queensland has 14 trading ports, two community ports and five non-trading ports, which are administered by seven port authorities:
- Brisbane;
- Bundaberg;
- Central Queensland Port Authority (CQPA);
- Mackay;
- Townsville;
- Cairns; and
- The Ports Corporation of Queensland.
The port authorities are responsible for the provision and maintenance of channels and berths, whilst contracting others to provide services such as towage and stevedoring (only CQPA undertakes stevedoring activities itself).
The Queensland Competition Authority determines the fair and reasonable terms and conditions of access to terminals which have been 'declared' for third party access under the Queensland Competition Authority Act 1997.
The Authority's responsibilities in relation to Ports are to:
- assess and approve access undertakings for ports declared for Third Party Access;
- arbitrate access disputes;
- enforce breaches of access obligations;
- investigate and monitor prices for ports declared for monopoly prices oversight; and
- assess competitive neutrality.
Regulatory Framework
The main sources of regulation, as relevant to the Authority’s role in the port sector, are:
The Transport Infrastructure Act regulates, amongst other things:
- functions and powers of port authorities; and
- land management.
The Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Act regulates, amongst other things:
- safety, including ship safety;
- navigation;
- portage; and
- the role of harbour masters.
Issues
The Authority's responsibilities encompass the following ports issue:
