Man Found Hiding On Bulk Carrier In Newcastle After Trying To Flee The Country

BY IAN CROUCH

A man found hiding in the air-conditioning vent of a bulk carrier in Newcastle is due to face a Sydney court today (Wednesday 24 June, 2020) accused of attempting to flee the country on a yacht.

The bulk carrier came to the assistance of the yacht after it got into trouble off the coast of Yamba on Saturday.

A 31-year-old man was taken on board the carrier and the yacht towed to Newcastle, however the man was reported missing when the ship arrived in port on Saturday night and the tow line had snapped and the yacht lost at sea.

Police and Border Force officers mounted an extensive search and the man was eventually found on Monday morning.

He's wanted for breach of bail over an alleged sexual assault.

Police say a search of the man on board the carrier uncovered $4,435 in cash and a knife.

Police will allege in court the man deliberately cut the tow line and planned to hide onboard the ship until it was due to depart Newcastle for Malaysia.

New Report: Newcastle Container Terminal "Makes No Sense"

BY IAN CROUCH

A report due out today is expected to shoot holes in Newcastle's push for a container terminal.

Fairfax says the report, prepared for Ports NSW by consultants KPMG, claims building container capacity in Newcastle makes no sense. Port NSW operates Port Botany and Port Kembla.

The report says compared to Botany and Port Kembla, between now and 2046, a Newcastle terminal would cost the most to maintain and would bring in the least amount of container trade. It goes on to say that Port Kembla would be the obvious choice should a second container terminal be needed in NSW.

Although Newcastle Port CEO Craig Carmody maintains the project wouldn't need public funding, the report suggests it would need massive taxpayer investment in road and rail projects to be successful.

New Report Says Newcastle Container Terminal "Makes No Sense"

Hunter Labor MPs Support Legal Action Against NSW Ports

BY IAN CROUCH

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.

Fresh Push For Container Terminal In Newcastle Despite Government Restriction

BY IAN CROUCH

Australia's largest stevedoring company is reportedly interested in setting up a container terminal in Newcastle.

The Herald reports DP World is in talks with the Port of Newcastle about the idea in a bid to break a monopoly on container freight held by Port Botany.

It's understood DP World is one of two parties interested in setting up a container terminal in Newcastle.

It comes as the A-Triple-C investigates a so-called secret fee imposed by the state government on container freight from Newcastle.

DP World Is One Of Two Parties Interested In Setting Up Container Terminal In Newcastle