Independent Review of the Coastal Trading (Revitalising Australian Shipping) Act 2012

Independent Review of the Coastal Trading (Revitalising Australian Shipping) Act 2012 Independent Review of the Coastal Trading (Revitalising Australian Shipping) Act 2012 Submission to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts October 2024 Introduction Australian Chamber – Tourism welcomes the opportunity to comment on the review of the Coastal. [...] This submission outlines the importance of the cruising industry to the visitor economy and the need to ensure that appropriate measures are adopted to support it. [...] We strongly recommend that one such measure will be to eliminate the need for an exemption under section 11 of the Act and, more specifically, the need to extend the exemption on an ongoing basis. [...] As the cruise industry developed in the latter half of the 20th century, the operation of the industry was captured by these regulations despite them being wholly designed for the movement of cargo – not passengers. [...] Recognising the potential ramifications and acknowledging the significant positive impact arising from the cruise ship exemption, the Government continued the practice of exempting cruise ships over 5000GT via Ministerial Exemption to the Act.