News from Adam Marshall

Extract from

Adam Marshall Newsletter

Weekly report Friday, 30 September 2022

Unlocking grain export growth at Newcastle Port

An industry push to establish the Port of Newcastle as a leading NSW grain export and receivable terminal has my full support.

It is crucial the changes are made to facilitate millions of dollars of private investment, which is ready to start constructing a new deep port container terminal, which would slash rail freight costs and grow profits for producers in northern NSW.

Our grain growers have a gateway to world markets on their doorstep, but unfair bureaucracy and now redundant rules are keeping the door to Port of Newcastle locked and bolted.

Currently Port Commitment Deeds (PCD), which were signed when Port Kembla and Port Botany were privatised by the State Government in 2013, require the State to compensate those two ports if container traffic at the Port of Newcastle exceeds a cap.

When the Port of Newcastle was privatised in 2014, another PCD required that port’s operators to reimburse the State Government for any compensation paid to the operators of Kembla and Botany.

These provisions have made establishing a container terminal and increasing capacity at the Port of Newcastle financially unviable for the owners – and our grain growers and local businesses are paying the price.

The Productivity Commission recently released a report blaming the government’s embargo on container shipments through Newcastle for “raising import and export costs across the container logistics chain”. The fact is these deeds are outdated.

They have led to congestion at Port Botany and a lack of competition – in fact, no competition – as well as promoting uncontrolled cost increases to move containers in and out of Port Botany, which, by the way, has been named by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission as one of the least efficient ports in the world.

Meanwhile, the Port of Newcastle, a shining regional jewel, is a natural gateway to many parts of New South Wales. It is ideally placed to open up the State's container trade but it is blocked by State Government decisions made a decade ago.

Legislators must relook at the port commitment deeds and create an environment which at least removes the reimbursement provisions so the Port of Newcastle can operate in a freer market.

The establishment of a container terminal at Port of Newcastle would go hand-in-glove with the upcoming Moree Special Activation Precinct and freight hub. 

If a key purpose of the SAP is to streamline agricultural freight out of the North West, then it stands to reason steps should be taken to increase access to the most immediate international shipping port.

Establishing a container terminal at Port of Newcastle has the potential of cutting the cost of grain rail freight by $16 to $22 per tonne – putting huge dollars back in the pockets of growers and the local economy.

While there are grain facilities at Newcastle, a container terminal would increase the amount of grain which can be received and stored during record harvests, reducing the need to move product to the far-off Port Kembla at Wollongong.

The Port of Newcastle has preliminary designs for the multi-purpose deep-water terminal at Mayfield and the money to proceed, it now needs the legislative framework to make it happen.

I fully support the campaign to have the Port of Newcastle released from its shackles to allow it to operate in a more fair, equitable way, in a free market, which subsequently leads to more job opportunities for young people, better results for our farmers and our businesses and all country communities.

NSW Government supporting customers impacted by Optus data breach

The NSW Government is working with Optus to support customers affected by the recent cyberattack.

Optus has confirmed some customers may have had a range of information accessed including passport and driver licence details as a result of the breach.

Information potentially accessed will vary depending on what was originally provided by the customer to Optus.

Customers in NSW can immediately begin the recovery process by ordering a replacement licence.

A $29 replacement fee will be charged and reimbursement advice will be issued by Optus.

The replacement licence will include a new card number for customers and can be sent to customers in a matter of weeks with the Digital Driver Licence updated in a matter of hours.

The old licence will not be able to be used to prove your identity within one hour of replacement. Customers can still use other forms of identification to prove their identity online.

Customers who have had both their driver licence number and associated card number compromised are expected to be contacted by Optus in coming days and are strongly advised to apply for a replacement licence as soon as possible.

NSW customers who need support regarding the replacement of identity documents and advice on preventative actions they can take, are encouraged to contact ID Support NSW on 1800 001 040 Monday to Friday 9am-5pm.

Glen Innes set to host 29th NSW Rural Women’s Gathering

On Wednesday, I welcomed the resumption of the popular NSW Rural Women’s Gatherings following a hiatus during the pandemic, announcing Glen Innes will host this year’s event.

Australia’s Celtic Capital will hold a Rural Women’s Dinner and Rural Women’s Day, which is set to bring attendees from right across the state. 

Hosts of the two events are the Glen Innes Natural Resources Advisory Committee (GLENRAC) and Guyra Evening Country Women’s Association, with support from the State Government and Rural Women’s Network.

Glen Innes is a terrific choice for the resumption of the NSW Rural Women’s Gathering, having so ably undertaken hosting duties back in 2015 for the very successful ‘Gather in the Glen’ event. 

I am confident that the team from GLENRAC with the CWA’s Guyra Evening branch will again be the hosts with the most and stage a fabulous couple of days that showcase our region and warm hospitality.

Events such as these are vital in renewing contacts, friendships and lifting spirits - especially following covid and the isolation that imposed.

I look forward to seeing this wonderful event back in the region.

This year’s Gathering includes a Rural Women’s Evening on Thursday 13 October and Rural Women’s Day on Friday 14 October. To more information or to register, visit www.glenrac.org.au/events-all

 HON. ADAM MARSHALL

Member for Northern Tablelands