INDUSTRY has broadly welcomed the release of the redesigned National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy, unveiled this week by Catherine King, minister for infrastructure, transport and regional development.
It is a reworked version of a policy first released back in 2019.
The strategy’s has four key components—developing a National Freight Resilience Plan, establishing a Freight Infrastructure Investment Framework, advancing safety research into zero-emission technologies and modelling the current and future freight network.
Key industry body the Victorian Transport Association applauded what it said were “proactive steps to strengthen Australia’s supply chain resilience”.
VTA chief executive Peter Anderson said these initiatives reflected “a growing recognition of the freight and logistics industry’s vital role in supporting Australia’s economy and communities”.
“We particularly welcome the focus on coordinated infrastructure planning and the integration of new technologies to improve safety and productivity,” he said.
The VTA also reiterated its call for the establishment of a dedicated Minister for Transport at the Commonwealth level.
“Our industry deserves recognition as a vital pillar of Australia’s economy,” Mr Anderson said.
“A dedicated minister would ensure national leadership and policy focus that reflects the scale and importance of freight and logistics to our future prosperity.”
He said the VTA looked forward to working collaboratively with government and industry stakeholders to support the successful implementation of the strategy.
A spokesperson for the Port of Melbourne said Australia's supply chain would benefit from “a robust strategy that and provides support for the sector and enables collaboration between government and industry”.
“We support the priority areas highlighted in the Strategy and Action Plan, which drive the supply chain toward productivity, resilience, and sustainability,” the spokesperson said.
“Port of Melbourne is already progressing a number of initiatives in support of the priorities first outlined in the 2019 strategy.
“We look forward to continuing to work with government and industry and investing in capacity and productivity enhancements that will position Australia for the future.”
International Forwarders and Customs Brokers Association of Australia chief executive Scott Carson said IFCBAA “commends the federal government on the release of the updating of the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy, incorporating a new National Action Plan and Implementation Plan”.
“With the freight task projected to increase by 26% by 2050, a ‘whole of government’ approach is necessary for the nation to be able to efficiently and safely manage the international and domestic logistics tasks through Australia, into and from, global markets,” Mr Carson said.
“Crucially, increased direct engagement with relevant industry associations such as IFCBAA will be essential, in order to enhance the prospects of this strategy and its associated action and implementation plans being successful, not just for our industry sector, but for the broader economy as a whole, at a time when the nation requires productivity gains to assist in increasing economic growth levels for Australia.”
Freight and Trade Alliance general manager freight policy and operations Tom Jensen said they and their affiliated Australian Peak Shippers Association would “continue to engage with government” to ensure industry’s voice was heard regarding the strategy.