Voluntary Pricing Protocol

The Voluntary Pricing Protocol has been developed in close consultation with port stevedores, transport bodies, the Port of Melbourne and Australia’s peak shipping body.

Port of Melbourne’s three stevedores, DP World, Patrick Terminals and VICT have all publicly expressed their commitment to following the Voluntary Pricing Protocol to increase notification for changes to stevedore terminal handing charges.

These guidelines apply to any proposed increases from 1 July 2020.

To receive emails on stevedore notifications under the Voluntary Pricing Protocol and other updates relating to the Voluntary Port Performance Model, please register by emailing freightvictoria@transport.vic.gov.au.

March 2022 update

The Victorian Voluntary Pricing Protocol is consistent with the National Transport Commission’s (NTC) national voluntary guidelines for landside stevedore charges(opens in a new window), which were released on 31 March 2022.

Given the consistency between the two voluntary schemes, DoT will continue to apply its Voluntary Pricing Protocol, noting that it provides additional detail on the timeframes and format of stakeholder engagement on stevedores’ proposed changes to landside terminal access charges.

DoT will undertake targeted stakeholder engagement on adopting the NTC’s guidelines noting that while the intent is the same, there are minor differences as outlined above.

January 2022 update

Following a review, the Voluntary Pricing Protocol now uses more simple language, excludes previous footnotes and provides greater clarity of process, action owners and timeframes.

These changes are consistent with current practice for the protocol, which includes process refinements from both the Department of Transport and stevedores as it has been developed.

All three stevedores are supportive of these changes.

Voluntary Pricing Protocol

1. Stevedores must notify the Executive Director, Freight Victoria in DoT of the proposed pricing change 60 calendar days prior to the proposed implementation date. The stevedore’s 60-day notice to DoT must be accompanied by:
   • Detailed reasons for the increase or introduction of pricing change, including all relevant supporting information or data and
   • A link to the public notice on the stevedore’s website which includes:
     • publicly available rationale for the price change
     • the due date for industry feedback; and
     • stevedore contact information.
2. When DoT receives a 60-day notice from a stevedore, DoT will email its VPPM industry stakeholder list within one day to advise of the proposed pricing change. This email will include the link to the stevedore’s 60-day notice, the proposed date of change, closing date for industry feedback and the due date of the 30-day final notice.
3. Both government and industry have 21 calendar days from the 60-day notice period to provide formal, written feedback direct to the stevedore on the proposed pricing change.
4. Stevedores must issue a final notice of the pricing change to the Executive Director, Freight Victoria, which provides a link to the final notice on its website 30 calendar days prior to the proposed implementation date of the pricing change. When DoT receives the final, 30-day notice from a stevedore, DoT will email its VPPM industry stakeholder list within one calendar day to advise of the proposed pricing change. The stevedore’s final 30-day notice on its website must include:
   • A summary of engagement themes received in writing from industry and government and
   • Any response from the stevedore.

Definitions under the Voluntary Pricing Protocol:

• Stevedore terminal handling charges refers to all charges payable to stevedores in connection with the operation or provision of land-based facilities and services at stevedore terminals.
• Pricing change refers to both changes to existing charges and the introduction of new charges.
• All periods when specified in days refer to calendar days.

Stevedore notifications

• DP World
• Patrick Terminals
• VICT

DP World

Patrick Terminals

VICT

Please provide formal feedback on these price notifications directly to the relevant stevedore.

On 1 January 2023, DoT was renamed the Department of Transport and Planning.

If you wish to provide comments to the Department of Transport and Planning, please email your feedback to freightvictoria@transport.vic.gov.au.