Guidance for new and redeveloping international port operators

International transport is vital to Australia's trade and tourism, along with the need to balance the efficient movement of people and goods across Australia's border.

The Australian Government has established a clear, transparent and consistent process to help ensure that border services (biosecurity, immigration and customs control) are available at ports when they are required.

General Licence Reports Summary 2018–2019

Category of TradeCargo DescriptionAggregated VolumeVolume / Amount Type
Container N/A 189,592 TEU
Dry Bulk Cement 1,113,097 MT
Dry Bulk Limestone 2,107,610 MT
Dry Bulk Magnetite 7,433,676 MT
General Cargo 20Ft Container

Independent price regulation of heavy vehicle charges

As part of the Australian Government’s response to Infrastructure Australia’s Australian Infrastructure Plan, and in line with the Transport and Infrastructure Council’s Heavy Vehicle Road Reform Road Map, the Department undertook a public consultation process to seek public and industry views on options for independent price regulation of heavy vehicle charges. This consultation took place from 25 May 2017 to 14 July 2017.

Independent research on heavy vehicle road reform

To support the development and implementation of heavy vehicle road reform, the department will, from time to time, seek expert analysis on various reform components. The reports below reflect point in time analysis sought by the department, and findings or recommendations should not be considered indicative of government policy.

Heavy Vehicle Road Reform

The Australian Government is working with state, territory and local governments, as well as industry and community stakeholders, to progress Heavy Vehicle Road Reform. This work is being overseen by Transport and Infrastructure Ministers.

Have your say: Proposed increase in road user charge for heavy vehicles powered by gaseous fuels

On 30 March 2021 Infrastructure and Transport Ministers agreed to increase heavy vehicle road user charges for 2021-22 by 2.5 per cent. This will see State and Territory registration fees and the Commonwealth heavy vehicle Road User Charge (RUC) increase by 2.5 per cent from 1 July 2021 (noting Western Australia and the Northern Territory set their registration fees separately to national decisions).

Consultation on proposed changes to the way heavy vehicle charges are set and invested

Public submissions to consultation on proposed Heavy Vehicle Road Reform

Public submissions to the consultation on proposed changes to the way heavy vehicle charges are set and invested closed on 28 October 2020. For more information about the proposed changes, please refer to the consultation page.

Submissions are published below in the order they were received. Only submissions that requested to be kept in confidence have been omitted from publication.

Heavy Vehicle Road Reform Phase One

Improve transparency around expenditure, investment and service delivery

The first phase of the Heavy Vehicle Road Reforms (HVRR) is focused on improving transparency around:

  • road spending,
  • road assets, and
  • levels of service for heavy vehicle road users.

Fundamentally, properly functioning markets require informed users and road providers. The measures outlined below, aim to establish a baseline of information required to transition to the provision of heavy vehicle infrastructure as an economic service over the longer term:

Background on Heavy Vehicle Road Reform

The ultimate goal of heavy vehicle road reform is to turn the provision of heavy vehicle road infrastructure into an economic service where feasible. This would see a market established that links heavy vehicle user needs with the level of service they receive, the charges they pay and the investment of those charges back into heavy vehicle road services.
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