Shipping companies will temporarily pay a higher levy to help meet the cost of cleaning up an oil spill off the coast of south-east Queensland last year.
The federal government is increasing the levy by 3 cents per tonne to pay for the Pacific Adventurer oil spill last March.
Swire Shipping paid $A25 million in compensation but the clean-up cost $A31 million.
Federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese says taxpayers should not have to bear the additional costs.
The ABC reports his decision takes the levy to just over 14c per tonne for cargo ship owners.
