The next cost impost on truck drivers and transport operators in container logistics sector across Australia is the decision by the Federal Government, buried in the 2026/27 Budget, to fully cost recover criminal and national security background checks for Maritime Security Identification Card MSIC applicants.
From 1 July 2026, the AusCheck background checking fee for a renewal of an MSIC for four years will increase from $184 to $504.50 β an insane increase of over 274 percent (%)!!
This has forced Issuing Bodies, such as OneStop., to announce their own price increases.
No doubt, this additional cash-grab by the Government through the increased AusCheck Background Checking Fee will fund what to date, in the view of CTAA, has been a dysfunctional process of reform with only spasmodic industry stakeholder engagement.
