ACCC consults on GrainCorp's proposed wheat port access arrangements for 2011-2014

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission today began consultation on GrainCorp's proposed wheat port access arrangements for October 2011 to September 2014.

GrainCorp's proposed undertaking relates to the provision of access to services for the export of bulk wheat at seven grain terminals operated by GrainCorp in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. These terminals are:

• Queensland:  Fisherman Islands, Gladstone and Mackay;
• New South Wales:  Carrington and Port Kembla; and
• Victoria:  Geelong and Portland.

GrainCorp must have access arrangements in place by 1 October 2011 in order to retain accreditation to export bulk wheat under the Wheat Export Marketing Act 2008.

The ACCC accepted an access undertaking from GrainCorp on 29 September 2009 for two years until 30 September 2011. GrainCorp has now submitted a proposed access undertaking for the period from 1 October 2011 to 30 September 2014.

GrainCorp's proposed undertaking includes:

• publication of price and non-price terms for standard services
• non-discriminatory access
• negotiation of access in good faith
• arbitration of access disputes, and
• publication of key port information.

An ACCC issues paper and GrainCorp's proposed undertaking and supporting submission will be available on the ACCC website.

Submissions from interested parties are invited by 4 November 2010.