Industry wants clarity over Fremantle privatisation
Industry players are looking for certainty over plans to privatise the Port of Fremantle.
Those plans hit a snag late last month when the National Party withdrew their support for plans driven by Liberal Premier Colin Barnett.
The Liberals and Nationals do not have as close a relationship as they do on the east coast and this development was seen as increasing tensions between the two conservative parties.
WA Nationals leader Terry Redman said he still had concerns.
“My (Nationals) team and I are strongly of the view that we cannot see a pathway, certainly between now and the election, and I suggest after that, that we can have a process... that supports the sale of what is such a significant and strategic asset for the state," he said.
The sale has been tipped to generate as much as $2bn, money that would go towards clearing Western Australian debt.
Freight and Logistics Council of Western Australia chief executive Mark Brownell said the Council had no strong view about privatisation but any political difficulties were “unfortunate”.
“The Council does not have a strong view either way regarding port privatisation so long as port efficiency and port costs are not put in jeopardy and appropriate attention is given to the supply chains supporting the operation,” Mr Brownell told Lloyd’s List Australia.
“At the end of the day, it is a government decision driven by budgetary considerations. The Premier has been very clear about that.
“The current difficulties at a political level on this issue are unfortunate, mainly because they add to the uncertainty that surrounds a number of key decisions impacting Fremantle Port.”