The Australasian Rail Association (ARA) has welcomed a shared commitment from both Federal Government and Opposition to deliver a National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy.
Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Michael McCormack, and the Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development, Anthony Albanese, both confirmed that they recognise the critical importance of the strategy.
The comments were made at the Australian Logistics Council (ALC) Forum 2019 in Melbourne.
“Good progress is being made in partnership with all levels of government and it will be a key item of discussion at the next COAG Transport and Infrastructure Ministerial Council Meeting,” Mr McCormack said.
Mr. Albanese echoed this sentiment during his address to Forum.
“A future Labor Government would not try and reinvent the wheel yet again,” he said.
This bipartisan approach is a positive sign that the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy remains central to the management of Australia’s future freight task and will be delivered in 2019, irrespective of the result of the upcoming federal election.
The ARA said it was also encouraging to note the high degree of engagement and collaboration between the Federal Government and their state and territory counterparts on the development of the Strategy.
The organisation advised that this momentum be maintained throughout the election cycle.
The ARA said it was essential that Government and industry continue to work together to deliver a National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy that will ensure a more prosperous Australia.
Other industry organisations also welcomed this renewed bipartisan commitment. These organisations included ALC, Australian Trucking Association, Infrastructure Partnerships Australia, Ports Australia and Shipping Australia Ltd.
The ARA said it will work across the whole supply chain industry to hold the elected government to a timetable that delivers the Strategy in 2019 – so that all Australian households and businesses can share in the benefits of enhanced supply chain performance.
