Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure | Dalrymple Bay Terminal | DBI Australia
Regulatory Framework

Regulatory Framework

Services at DBT are regulated by the Queensland Competition Authority (QCA) under the Queensland Competition Authority Act 1997 (QCA Act). DBT operates under a third-party access regime that establishes the framework for setting the terms and conditions on which access to the terminal is provided.

DBT’s regulatory framework is implemented through a QCA-approved Access Undertaking (AU), which governs the terms of access to the terminal, and a Standard Access Agreement (SAA), under which customers contract for capacity. The Access Undertaking is reviewed by the QCA every five years. The current AU remains in effect until 1 July 2031.

The regulatory framework is complemented by DBT’s contractual arrangements, which are designed to minimise DBI’s exposure to volume risk, customer default and revenue volatility. Key risk mitigation mechanisms embedded in the AU and SAA include:

  • Take-or-pay contract structures
  • Customer security arrangements
  • Compliance and variation processes
  • Pass-through of approved operating and maintenance costs

The Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training administers the QCA Act, including responsibility for declaring DBT’s services for regulation. The current declaration was renewed in June 2020 for a further 10-year period and is due to expire in September 2030.