Originally Posted by SMH 13/12/2004
A NSW government plan to introduce a levy on heavy vehicle freight could cripple the industry, unions and a peak trucking body warned today.
NSW Planning and Infrastructure Minister Craig Knowles today announced the first stage of the government's Port Freight Plan for Sydney.
It would include a levy for container trucks in a bid to encourage the delivery of more of the state's freight by rail.
The levy would be used to fund a $2 billion upgrade to state freight transport.
But the Australian Trucking Association and the Transport Workers Union have opposed the levy although they welcome attempts to improve freight infrastructure.
"We think it's important that the government of NSW establish a freight infrastructure advisory board of the like they're talking about to discuss the issues of freight demand and how they're managed within NSW," said association chief executive Chris Althaus.
"But taking an approach of simply applying a levy to the trucking industry is highly simplistic and won't achieve what is needed (and) a much more broadly-based solution is required."
Mr Althaus said the trucking industry could not afford to pay a levy.
"They (the government) could make the levy double that amount if they wanted to, but the reality is those charges will be passed on to exporters, to manufacturers and ultimately to consumers."
The trucking industry was not to blame for roads choked by freight.
"The level of vehicles on the road is simply a reflection of our economic growth," he said.
The trucking industry was of extreme economic importance to Australia with transport, storage and logistics accounting for about three to four per cent of GDP, he said.
According to the union, the government should collect any levy on freight containers from the importers themselves.