From July 10, Patrick terminals will be imposing an infrastructure surcharge on all box containers being imported and exported, but industry body Road Freight New South Wales (RFNSW) is currently seeking state government intervention to stop the new tax being implemented until after industry consultation.

General Manager of RFNSW Mr O'Hara said that when DP World Australia imposed their tax back in April, RFNSW was extremely concerned that it was only a matter of time before other stevedores followed suit. It seems likely the tax would be used to off-set the costs of ongoing terminal privatisation.

“There is little doubt this additional tax will continue to financially impact on many smaller, family-owned trucking companies who are already suffering as a result of the DPWA levy and other cost pressures, like rate changes to the General Carriers Contract Determination (GCCD),” Mr O'Hara said.

Mr O'Hara continued, “Patrick even acknowledges this in its letter announcing the levy, saying it ‘recognises these charges may impact our transport and logistic customers’ working capital requirements." When the DP World Australia tax was introduced, some of our members reported that they stood to lose up to $150,000 per year. We dread to think what this latest charge is going to do to their operating margins."