<p>The Australian Logistics Council is concerned at the lack of attention paid at a Commonwealth level to the development of coastal shipping as an alternate transport mode. </p> <p>Coastal shipping was missing from the national agenda in favour of rail and road reforms, ALC executive director Hal Morris told <em>Lloyd’s List DCN</em> .</p> <p>“We really do need senior politicians to start looking at the full picture,” Mr Morris said.</p> <p>“As a mode, it’s environmentally friendly and Australia has a population that lives, in the majority, on the coast. </p> <p>“We’re blessed with a history of ports and port infrastructure.</p> <p>“The question is, why not?”</p> <p>While Mr Morris said current regulations did not support the development of the mode as an alternative to road and rail transportation.</p> <p>“Regulations currently in place support the continuation of continued voyage permits, the employment of overseas sailors, and not a lot of attention [is paid] to making the regulations suit and support shipping,” he said.</p> <p>“If it is so hard to invest in Australian shipping it’ll just flow somewhere else.</p> <p>“In a time when we have increasing demand and huge opportunity, we really need some attention paid to have a look at what are the rules and regs we need changed to get this thing moving.”</p> <br />
