The Hunter's state Labor MP's are vowing to work with the competition watchdog to ensure Newcastle is not deprived of a container terminal.
They've written a joint letter to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to support its Federal Court action against NSW Ports over an anti-competitive contact which would effectively compensate Port Kembla and Port Botany if a container terminal was developed in Newcastle.
The Hunter ALP members say while Newcastle is a major coal port, developing a container terminal would supercharge local job opportunities, improve linkages across the state and provide new commercial opportunities.
They say it would also reduce pollution and congestion in Sydney, lower the state's freight costs and boost the NSW economy by $6 billion by 2050.
Labor has instigated a parliamentary inquiry which begins this week into the impact of the Port of Newcastle lease arrangements.
