The Australian Logistics Council (ALC) has laid out a list of 39 priority actions for the incoming Federal Government to ensure the freight logistics industry’s ongoing success.
Freight: Delivering Opportunity For Australia identifies 39 priorities for the incoming Federal Government to pursue that address challenges and opportunities relevant to all modes of freight transport.
ALC CEO, Kirk Coningham, said industry participants had identified the priorities as critical to improving the efficiency and safety of Australia’s supply chains, and meeting a growing freight task.
“With our industry having received a bipartisan commitment to finalise the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy, the first priority for whichever party wins on 18 May must be to work with state and territory governments to finalise and implement action plans that will ensure the Strategy delivers for industry,” Mr Coningham said.
The priorities put forward by the ALC are designed to help bolster the effectiveness of the strategy by addressing some of the long-term infrastructure, investment and regulatory issues that act as an impediment to a seamless national freight network.
“Enhanced supply chain performance is not a niche issue,” Mr Coningham said.
“Every individual Australian relies on freight every day, no matter where they live. If we are going to meet the challenges that arise from a growing population and changing consumer expectations around rapid delivery, it will be necessary to implement the sorts of reforms ALC has set out.”
Mr Coningham said the priorities ALC has identified touch on a range of issues, including a more consistent national approach to planning and investing in freight infrastructure, enhancing the productivity of our road and rail networks through regulatory reform and strengthening our export performance through enhanced freight infrastructure in Northern Australia.
“There are also suggestions for improving the industry’s environmental performance by encouraging uptake of electric freight vehicles, ensuring the industry is able to access data that will allow more effective monitoring and measurement of supply chain performance, improving the wider community’s understanding of this industry and enhancing its ability to interact safely with freight vehicles,” he said.
“While many of these reforms will be challenging, they are absolutely essential to securing Australia’s continued economic success and creating more liveable communities.”
Mr Coningham said that although this reform agenda must be led by whichever party forms government, success will ultimately depend on cooperation and collaboration with all members of the 46th Parliament.
“It is important that all parliamentarians recognise that responsibility, whatever their political stripe, he said.
“To that end, ALC will seek to work closely with all political parties in the next Parliament to secure these policy reforms, and implement a National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy that allows this industry to keep delivering for all Australians.”
View Freight: Delivering Opportunity For Australia here.
