Port review funds fall short
WAFarmers has stepped up fundraising efforts for its Fremantle Port fighting fund, following a disappointing initial response.
WAFarmers president Dale Park said the group had raised less than $8000, but around $20,000-$30,000 was needed to commission an independent review into the costs and benefits to rural WA should the Fremantle Port be privatised.
The State Government plans to sell the port in bid to reduce debt by the next financial year.
Rothschild and Deloitte are expected to provide detailed recommendations in a report by December.
But Mr Park doubts this report would consider the costs and benefits to rural WA, so wants an independent assessment undertaken.
"I am disappointed, but not overly surprised that we have not reached our fundraising target," he said.
"We really need to be on the phone to those growers who would be likely to donate so will spend some time doing this in coming weeks."
Until now, the group had relied on people making donations at its field day displays, or via its website.
WAFarmers could also reach out to farming organisations in other States and produce a nationally relevant report.
"We are considering getting some co-funding and making the report relevant to all states in Australia," Mr Park said.
"This privatisation issue is not happening in isolation - the Newcastle and Melbourne ports have already been sold.
"All States in Australia will face these issues given State Governments are in so much debt and the ports, because they are making money, are obvious targets."
Mr Park said discussions with other Fremantle port users about potential mutual ownership were also taking place. He said it was not an option to have other WA port users contribute to the fighting fund, preferring to keep it focussed on how privatisation would impact farmers.
"Farmers are the only people in WA who have experience of the negative impact of privatisation through Brookfield's ownership of the rail network, and we know how badly wrong it can go," he said.
"Our experience gives us some credibility … when saying what is likely to happen." Mr Park said the report was important because it was vital to protect port users from private companies using their monopoly powers to make as much money as possible.
"Our commodity prices are set by world markets, and increasing the costs of port usage could make Australian produce uncompetitive," he said.
CBH recently announced it had increased grain freight handling charges by an estimated average of 6 per cent due to a hike in Brookfield Rail's access charges.
Following the recent increase, CBH said Brookfield Rail's access charges were four times the rate of comparable rail line sections on the east coast.
Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.
Sign up for our emails