Tas talks to Vic over port rent hike

Tasmania's Treasurer Peter Gutwein is talking with his Victorian counterpart over an "unacceptable" rent increase proposal for Australia's largest general cargo port.

Container stevedoring firm DP World Australia is disputing a proposed 750 per cent hike in rent at the Port of Melbourne, the site of the company's largest container terminal.

It comes after the Victorian government's privatisation of the port was pushed back while the state's opposition seeks to scrutinise the sale legislation.

Mr Gutwein says he met with DP World on Wednesday to discuss their concerns, then contacted Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas's office to continue talks.

"We're 26 per cent of the Port of Melbourne's business," he told reporters on Thursday.

"We need to ensure there is a good outcome.

"Increases above 700 per cent are completely unacceptable."