The Australian Logistics Council (ALC) has called on Tasmania’s government and opposition to prioritise the state’s freight logistics industry ahead of tomorrow’s election.
Michael Kilgariff, the ALC’s managing director, said the industry peak body had written to both the Liberal and the Labor party to encourage them, if elected, to build on the Tasmanian Integrated Freight Strategy to make sure that the state’s supply chains were able to keep up with a growing population.
“Recent figures confirm that Tasmania’s population growth is now occurring at its fastest rate in six years,” Kilgariff said.
“That makes it vital for governments to act now, so that Tasmania’s freight logistics infrastructure is able to service growing demand in the years ahead.”
The Integrated Freight Strategy, released by the Hodgman government in 2016, aims towards the development of policy that will ensure efficient and integrated freight connections across the state, as well as supporting competition in the freight industry.
The ALC head also implored the leaders of both major parties to cooperate with the federal government in developing the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy, which has been in development for over a year, and to commit to delivering the full 119.6 million Tasmanian Freight Rail Revitalisation Program (TFRRP).
The TFRRP has been designed to provide upgrades to critical sections of the state’s freight rail network, including re-sleepering and re-railing works, minor drainage works, replacement or rehabilitation of selected culverts and selected rail bridges.
Kilgariff said the program’s second tranche of funds was critical in maintaining the Hobart to Burnie freight corridor and in providing certainty for industry going forward.
“The premier has already replied to ALC confirming his government is committed to delivering the second tranche, and industry would welcome a similar commitment from the opposition,” said Kilgariff.
“ALC has also asked the leaders to outline their plans for dealing with other crucial supply chain issues, including congestion in urban areas, a corridor protection strategy to protect key freight corridors against the impact of urban encroachment, and ensuring the regulation of Tasmania’s freight transport infrastructure affords our industry the flexibility it needs to operate 24/7.”