Mr Peter Morris asked the Minister for Workplace Relations and Small Business, upon notice, on 2 April 1998:

(1) Is it a fact that a 20 foot reefer container has a meat carriage capacity of 16 000 kgs; if not, what is the capacity.

(2) Does a $100 reduction in the stevedoring rate for the container referred to in part (1) equate to a reduction of $0.00625 per kilogram of beef.

Mr Reith (Workplace Relations and Small Business) —The answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:

(1) Advice provided by the Australian Association of Port and Marine Authorities (AAPMA) indicates that a 20 foot reefer container has an average meat carriage capacity of 15,000 to 18,000 kilograms. The exact figure would depend, for example, on whether the meat was in packed or carcass form.

(2) The price of beef in the export market is determined by a number of transport related factors only one of which is the stevedoring charge. For example, the lack of reliability as a result of delays in the arrival or departure of vessels can greatly add to the cost for shipowners which is ultimately paid for by the shipper.