The Australian Logistics Council has called for a more rapid approach to supply chain reforms from governments around the country, after Australia’s transport, infrastructure and planning ministers met last week.
The Transport and Infrastructure Council (TIC) met in Sydney on Friday, November 9.
The council was joined by representatives from the Australasian Railway Association, the Australian Logistics Council, the Australian Trucking Association, Roads Australia, Ports Australia and the Australasian Centre for Rail Innovation, among other industry bodies.
Ministers and industry representatives discussed the significant infrastructure programs going on at the state and federal level around the country, and how best to support the construction industry through this boom.
They also discussed continued work on heavy vehicle road reforms.
Ministers are due to return in 2019 with advice on how reforms should be implemented, and this advice is supposed to focus on road funding reform, independent price regulation, and a forward-looking cost base.
While the Australian Logistics Council welcomed “some positive outcomes” from the meeting, ALC interim chief executive Lachlan Benson said governments need to adopt a faster pace when it comes to implementing change.
“Improving the efficiency and safety of our supply chains is a vital national economic priority,” Benson said.
“If Australia is going to meet its growing freight task and remain internationally competitive, then we must ensure the regulatory frameworks around freight movement reflect modern realities and allow this industry to meet customer’s expectations.”
Benson said the industry needs a “definitive reform timeline” to be laid out, and then adhered to.
Elsewhere, Benson encouraged ministers to give the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator “an expanded remit that allows it to focus on initiatives that will drive enhanced productivity”.