AN INQUIRY into Port of Melbourne pricing is an important opportunity to assess if operations are occurring competitively and efficiently, Essential Services Commission chair and commissioner Gerard Brody says.
The Essential Services Commission is asking for public feedback as part of its second inquiry into the port, in accordance with the Victorian government’s pricing order.
The inquiry is to examine the five-year period from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2026.
The pricing order sets the rules for how the port can charge for key services, including:
The commission reviews the port’s compliance with the pricing order every five years.
In between these formal inquiries, it provides yearly feedback to help guide the port and identify issues affecting port users and other stakeholders.
The commission is now seeking submissions on whether:
“We want to hear from port users, industry participants and other interested stakeholders about their experiences and views on the port’s pricing practices,” Mr Brody said.
“Feedback from submissions will help inform our assessment of whether the pricing order has been followed and whether any issues require closer attention.”
A spokesperson for the Port of Melbourne said they welcomed the opportunity to participate in the inquiry and were committed to "supporting a transparent, evidence-based review".
"Over the past five years, PoM has made significant improvements to its approach to pricing, engagement and governance," the spokesperson said.
"This includes strengthening internal capability, enhancing expenditure forecasting processes and embedding more structured and consistent stakeholder engagement practices.
"PoM encourages port users and stakeholders to engage directly with the Essential Services Commission as part of this process."
A Shipping Australia spokesperson said it was “pleasing that there is at least one pricing regulator overseeing price hikes in the port sector”.
“Pricing regulators for ports are vitally important as ports are regional monopolies; they have a lot of market power and their customers cannot choose to do business somewhere else,” the spokesperson said.
“We would like to see the model of independent price regulation rolled out across the whole sector and at the federal level.
“In the interim, we hope that the Victorian ESC process will provide meaningful relief for port users.”
Anyone who wishes to follow the inquiry or make a submission can do so by visiting Engage Victoria. Submissions are open until 5pm 28 August 2026.
The commission will also hold a virtual public forum in late August 2026 to discuss issues being considered in the inquiry.
More information is available on the Essential Services Commission’s website.
The commission will provide its final report to the Minister for Finance by 31 December 2026.