CLOSER cooperation between government and industry was the focus of the Australian Logistics Council’s Government Dialogue event held in Canberra this week.
The event was a partnership with the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts, the dialogue brought together senior government officials from the Commonwealth, New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Northern Territory as well as industry leaders to discuss practical ways to improve freight reliability, lift productivity and reduce emissions.
ALC chief executive and managing director Hermione Parsons said the Dialogue's value lay in bringing policy responsibilities and operational experience into the same discussion.
“Government and industry share an interest in a freight system which serves Australian businesses and communities reliably and efficiently,” Dr Parsons said.
“The dialogue gives us valuable time together to examine the barriers, understand each other’s constraints and identify where joint effort will achieve better results.
“Government brings responsibility for policy, regulation and public investment. Industry brings operational knowledge, commercial investment and experience delivering freight services. Working together helps ensure decisions reflect what is needed on the ground.”
Department secretary Jim Betts opened the dialogue with an address on Australia’s freight system as a national resilience asset.
Matthew Brine, deputy Secretary, energy group, at the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, addressed lessons from the 2026 fuel crisis.
Discussions examined freight network vulnerabilities, the energy transition, policy implementation and opportunities for greater freight rail use. Rachel Parry, Deputy Secretary, Transport, delivered the closing keynote on priorities for 2027.
Dr Parsons said these issues required cooperation across portfolios, jurisdictions and businesses.
“Lower-emissions freight depends on coordination between transport and energy planning, supported by investment decisions which work for operators.
“Greater freight rail use requires government, operators, terminals and freight owners to address reliability, cost and connections together,” she said.
“Preparing for disruption requires a shared understanding of the routes and services communities depend on, particularly where alternative supply options are limited.”
Dr Parsons thanked Mr Betts for his ongoing personal support and acknowledged the department’s partnership with ALC.
“Jim’s commitment and the participation of his senior colleagues are central to the value of this initiative. We appreciate the opportunity for frank discussion and their willingness to work through difficult questions with industry,” she said.
“ALC looks forward to building on these relationships and identifying priorities for joint work in 2027. Our focus is on achievable improvements to the reliability, productivity and resilience of Australia’s freight services.”