Transurban’s draft undertaking to the ACCC does not address the trucking industry’s concerns about the proposed acquisition of WestConnex, Chair of the Australian Trucking Association, Geoff Crouch, said today.
The ACCC has released a draft proposed undertaking by Transurban that would require the company to publish traffic data from its NSW road toll network.
“The draft proposed undertaking does not address the competition concerns raised by the ATA,” Mr Crouch said.
“It does not address our concerns about increased truck tolls and a reduction in competition for the construction, ownership and operation of toll roads in Australia.
“The 16,000 hardworking trucking businesses in New South Wales can’t even afford the truck tolls they are charged now. The proposed sale would push truck tolls up even higher in the long run,” he said.
In its previous submission to the ACCC about the proposed Sydney Transport Partner purchase of WestConnex, the ATA expressed significant concern that:
- The sale would push up truck tolls in the long run through increases in the heavy vehicle multiplier
- Transurban would have an increased ability to secure new toll road concessions from the government, and
- Truck toll increases in Sydney would flow through to Transurban roads in other states.
“Trucking operators do not have the ability to choose alternative transport modes. A freight transporter can’t strap their load to the back of a bicycle and hope for the best,” Mr Crouch said.