Vic government to push through port sale

The Victorian government says it has the necessary administrative powers and is prepared to push through the sale of the Port of Melbourne without the parliament's support.

The opposition on Monday wavered in its support for the privatisation plan saying the government should await the outcome of an upper house inquiry due later this month.

The proposed 70-year-lease of the Port of Melbourne to a private operator was a long time to regret a "bad deal", Nationals leader Peter Walsh said.

But Treasurer Tim Pallas said the Andrews government was in no mood for delay, and if parliament did not pass the enabling legislation within weeks it could use administrative powers.

"We hope this is just posturing for the purpose of getting some attention," Mr Pallas said.

"If however they are serious about getting in the way, if the legislation doesn't pass before the end of the year, then the government would be left with no other course of action that to immediately apply ... to use administrative means to lease the port."

The government has sufficient powers under the State Owned Enterprises Act to push through the sale.

But, Mr Pallas warned, the administrative route could result in a sale price and lease conditions that were less favourable for the Victorian taxpayer.

Mr Walsh said the opposition's support hinged on how the government responded to industry concerns raised during the upper house inquiry.

"The treasurer is over-reacting, he needs to take a considered view on this," Mr Walsh said.

"We need to make sure we get the best deal for Victoria, seventy years is a long time to have a bad deal."

The Andrews government wants to lease the port for 50 years, with the option to extend a further 20 years, to fund Labor's commitment to remove 50 suburban level crossings.