Regulator releases Port of Melbourne Market Rent Inquiry scope and process paper

The Essential Services Commission has released a scope and process paper for its Port of Melbourne Rent Inquiry, covering the 5-year period from 1 November 2019 to 31 October 2024. 

The inquiry will consider whether the port lessee or the port of Melbourne operator has: 

• Power in the relevant market that it may exercise in relation to the processes for setting or reviewing of land rents or associated payments payable by a tenant; and if so
• Exercised that power in way that causes material detriment to the long-term interests of Victorian consumers. 

This scope and process paper provides the first of several opportunities for stakeholders to engage with the commission about the inquiry. The commission is seeking input from stakeholders about any matters relevant to the inquiry, which may include:

• The Port of Melbourne’s processes for setting and reviewing rents and leases.
• Rents and payments, and terms and conditions that apply, under a lease for land at the Port of Melbourne.
• The processes the Port of Melbourne is required to use, and compliance with those processes.  
• The extent to which tenants can pass rents and associated costs through to users of services, to those users’ customers, and ultimately to Victorian consumers. 

Next steps

• The commission will hold a public forum on 7 November 2024. More information will be provided on our Port of Melbourne Rent Inquiry page and Engage Victoria page soon.
• Submissions to the scope and process paper close on 14 November 2024.  
• The final report will be published in the first half of 2025.

You can find out more on the Engage Victoria page.