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1 DELIVERY BUSINESS TRANSPORT SUPPLY LOGISTIC ANNUAL REPORT 2019 MARCH 2020
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Page 1: Australian Logistics Council (ALC) Freight Transport and ......Don Telford, March 2016 Ingilby Dickson, March 2015 Ian Murray AM, March 2012 Paul Little AO, February 2011 Peter Gunn

1

DELIVERY

BUSINESS

TRANSPORTSUPPLY

LOGISTICS

ANNUAL REPORT 2019

MARCH 2020

Page 2: Australian Logistics Council (ALC) Freight Transport and ......Don Telford, March 2016 Ingilby Dickson, March 2015 Ian Murray AM, March 2012 Paul Little AO, February 2011 Peter Gunn

ABN 231 31 860 136

MESSAGE FROM ALC CHAIR, PHILIP DAVIES 1

MESSAGE FROM CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, KIRK CONINGHAM OAM 3

ALC MEMBERS DECEMBER 2019 5

ALC BOARD AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2019 6

ABOUT US 8

EVENTS 2019 12

ALC FORUM 2019 12

INLAND RAIL CONFERENCE 2019 14

2019 ALC & ATA SUPPLY CHAIN SAFETY SUMMIT 16

2019 ALC SUPPLY CHAIN TECHNOLOGY & DATA SUMMIT 18

ALC DIALOGUE 20

ALC PARLIAMENTARY EVENT 21

RELEASE OF THE NATIONAL FREIGHT AND SUPPLY CHAIN STRATEGY 22

KEY POLICY PUBLICATIONS 2019 23

DON’T BOX US IN 23

HELP US DELIVER 23

REVIEW OF THE HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW 23

FREIGHT: DELIVERING OPPORTUNITY FOR AUSTRALIA 24

KEY POLICY SUBMISSIONS 25

COMMUNICATIONS 26

PRESENTATIONS 26

LOGISTICS. WE BRING IT. 26

ALC IN THE MEDIA 26

ALC MEDIA RELEASES 2019 27

ALC OPINION PIECE 28

CO

NTE

NTS

PO Box 20 DEAKIN WEST ACT 2600 P: +61 2 6273 0755 E: [email protected]

www.austlogistics.com.au

Australian Logistics Council@ AustLogistics

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1

Australian Logistics Council

MESSAGE FROM ALC CHAIR, PHILIP DAVIES

The most challenging circumstances in businesses tend to arise when the things we take for granted stop working as we expect them to. If there were any doubts about the veracity of such an observation, the early months of 2020 should serve to dispel them.

‘Coronavirus’, or COVID-19, was not a term most Australians had heard as 2019 ended. Yet today, it is dominating political discourse, economic thinking and – as rows of empty shelves in some supermarkets now attest – consumer behaviour. The most concerning consideration from a business perspective is how to predict, with any accuracy, how long the impact of COVID-19 will be with us.

However, this should not be taken as a reason to panic. Rather, it’s important to consider what the experience has taught us to date, and what adjustments we should now make to policy and investment settings to make our supply chains more resilient in the face of such challenges.

Logistics companies are at the forefront of getting goods into and out of Australia, whether by air or through our ports. The road and rail freight and warehousing sectors play a similarly crucial role in getting those goods to customers, or to the point of export.

The disruptive effects of an episode like COVID-19 have obvious flow-on effects across the whole supply chain – and these will need to be managed effectively and responsibly.

At the outset of the crisis, experts warned that the ongoing restrictions on the movement of goods and people in China – our largest trading partner – are likely to adversely impact Australia’s agricultural exports, and there is now evidence to suggest this is occurring.

The effects are also being felt in other export sectors, including minerals and resources.

On the other side of the equation, restrictions on the departure of vessels from China also means that those businesses importing goods to Australia – and the road and rail transport operators who provide services to them – are also experiencing a slowdown.

While some comparisons have been made with what occurred during the SARS outbreak in 2003, it seems certain that the supply chain impacts of coronavirus will run deeper. For one thing, the value of the Chinese economy was around $1.3 trillion at the time of SARS; today, it is around $14 trillion – and China is far more embedded in global supply chains than it was 17 years ago.

Consequently, there will be few Australian businesses whose supply chain operations do not have at least some degree of exposure to China, which means delays to obtaining goods brought about initially by delays to shipments, and then by bottlenecks as shipping operations start to come back online.

Although China will clearly remain an important market for Australian goods, it is difficult to predict how quickly consumer confidence there will recover – and what this means for domestic producers here in Australia relying on Chinese markets.

If nothing else, perhaps the COVID-19 event is a timely reminder of why diversification of markets is important – for exporters and importers alike.

At this point, one question this industry and governments must ask themselves is whether our supply chains are proving themselves sufficiently nimble in responding to these events. And, if the answer is ‘no’, what corrective investments should we be making?

In particular, if governments are going to undertake economic stimulus spending in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, it makes sense to direct some of that spending towards making sure we address some of the vulnerabilities in our supply chain that this experience has highlighted.

Improving the resilience of Australia’s supply chains to withstand the effects of natural disasters and international events was clearly identified in the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy released last year.

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2 ANNUAL REPORT 2019

It was also a theme echoed in the 2020 Infrastructure Priority List released by Infrastructure Australia in February. The updated list placed a renewed emphasis on enhancing the capacity of national infrastructure to cope with disruptive events – whether they occur as a result of natural disasters such as bushfires, or through other unexpected events such as global epidemics or terrorism.

‘Economic stimulus’ is often a byword for infrastructure investment, and of course ensuring that our port, road, rail and air freight facilities can withstand physical threats and shocks is vital.

However, if stimulus spending undertaken today is to deliver long-term benefits to the logistics sector, we also need policy makers to be thinking more broadly and considering issues that include the resilience of the sector’s workforce, the security of its data and its long-term competitiveness.

This means undertaking investments in measures that include skills training programs that are better aligned to the future needs of the industry, enhancing our capacity to collect and securely maintain data that drives better planning and investment, and redoubling efforts to secure additional export markets for Australian products may prove just as prudent a focus for governments looking to obtain the best returns on their stimulus spending.

I believe that ALC and its members can help governments see the wisdom in acting on this broader view, and I look forward to working with you over the year ahead to make that happen.

Philip Davies Chair Australian Logistics Council March 2020

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3

MESSAGE FROM CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, KIRK CONINGHAM OAM

My first year as CEO of the Australian Logistics Council has coincided with a time of immense challenge for many within the industry, with a tightening economic outlook and a range of other pressures forcing businesses to reexamine and redesign day-to-day practices in the drive for efficiencies.

Those existing pressures are likely to compound during 2020, given the extraordinarily difficult beginning to the year that has witnessed a major bushfire crisis domestically, and now a global COVID-19 epidemic that is having a significant effect on the operation of supply chains around the world.

Uncertainty is always the most significant risk in business – and uncertainty over the ultimate duration, scale and economic impact of COVID-19 will manifest itself in a variety of ways over the months ahead. This will put pressure on businesses across all parts of the economy, and the transports and logistics sector is no exception.

However, whatever the difficulties, it is important not to give way to gloom. Perhaps the thing that has struck me most about this industry during my first 12 months in the job is the determination of its participants to work rationally and methodically to deal with challenges, and to proactively pursue the opportunities and innovations that will set the industry up for its next phase of growth.

The release of the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy in August 2019 was a powerful example of the outcomes such commitment can produce.

Without the determination and active participation of ALC’s members, it is doubtful that the Federal Government would ever have agreed to the development of the Strategy, much less have obtained the agreement of state and territory jurisdictions to its implementation.

ALC members should be proud that the Strategy commits to delivering on a number of longstanding ALC advocacy priorities, including establishing a National Freight Data Hub, the development of a consistent set of National Planning Principles, providing updated mapping of key freight routes and hubs, as well as the development of a Transport Sector Skills Strategy.

ALC is continuing to work closely with the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications as the initial steps are taken in rolling out these much-needed industry initiatives.

That said, the release of the Strategy is merely a first step – its delivery is what will truly matter, and it is important that all levels of government are held to account for the actions they committed to in their implementation plans.

To that end, ALC has put federal and state ministers on notice that later this year, we will publicly release a scorecard that will assess the progress each jurisdiction has made in delivering on its implementation plan, noting that we are prepared to highlight areas of deficiency.

In this way, governments, the media and the wider community will have an independent, industry-led view of how well the Strategy’s implementation is tracking.

The scorecard will be developed through ALC’s Infrastructure & Regulation Committee, and its release will occur prior to the Transport and Infrastructure Council (TIC) meeting at which ministers are required to table their progress reports.

2019 also saw a federal election take place, and ALC was active throughout the campaign in highlighting the expectations of our members and the broader industry. Our election priority list, Freight: Delivering Opportunity for Australia, set out 39 priorities for the incoming Federal Government to pursue that address challenges and opportunities relevant to all modes of freight transport.

Developed in consultation with ALC members, the priorities touched on a range of issues, including a more consistent national approach to planning and investing in freight infrastructure, enhancing the productivity and safety of our road and rail networks through regulatory reform and strengthening Australia’s export performance through enhanced freight infrastructure in Northern Australia.

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4 ANNUAL REPORT 2019

The operation of supply chains in the north was given further focus in 2019 as ALC established its Northern Australia Working Group, bringing together industry participants, government bodies and research institutions to promote infrastructure investment and regulatory reform needed to optimise supply chains in Northern Australia, in order to more effectively manage population growth and take advantage of burgeoning export markets in South East Asia.

Although the day-to-day focus of many in industry at his time will understandably be on dealing with prevailing economic headwinds, our long-term success still depends on obtaining meaningful policy changes that will deliver more efficient, safe and resilient supply chains.

ALC will continue to work with our members and with governments to facilitate such policy change, so that this industry is well-positioned to take advantage of the opportunities that will flow as economic difficulties recede - and as the lessons of this difficult period lead to a consideration of what more needs to be done to protect and strengthen the supply chains that underpin everyday life.

Kirk Coningham OAM CEO Australian Logistics Council March 2020

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5

ALC MEMBERS DECEMBER 2019

LLaasstt uuppddaatteedd DDeecceemmbbeerr 22001199

Associates

Corporate members

National sponsors Strategic partners

Honorary fellowsAndrew Ethell, March 2017Don Telford, March 2016Ingilby Dickson, March 2015Ian Murray AM, March 2012

Paul Little AO, February 2011Peter Gunn AM, February 2011Ivan Backman AM, May 2010David Williams OAM, May 2010

ALC MEMBERS

Research and universities

Page 8: Australian Logistics Council (ALC) Freight Transport and ......Don Telford, March 2016 Ingilby Dickson, March 2015 Ian Murray AM, March 2012 Paul Little AO, February 2011 Peter Gunn

NAME

Simon Ormsby Deputy Chair

Executive General Manager Strategy & Corporate Development

COMPANY

Australian Rail Track Corporation

NAME

Roy Cummins Chief Executive Officer

COMPANY

Port of Brisbane

NAME

Craig Carmody Chief Executive Officer

COMPANY

Port of Newcastle

NAME

Zed Ivankovic Chief Corporate Affairs Officer

COMPANY

Toll Group

NAME

Ingilby Dickson Independent Director

ALC BOARD AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2019

NAME

Brendan Bourke Chief Executive Officer

COMPANY

Port of Melbourne

NAME

Philip Davies Chair

COMPANY

Australian Logistics Council

NAME

Marika Calfas Deputy Chair

Chief Executive Officer

COMPANY

NSW Ports

6 ANNUAL REPORT 2019

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7

NAME

Greg Pauline Director, Infrastructure and Property

COMPANY Qube Holdings (alternate director)

NAME

Ben Newton Head of Transport Development

COMPANY

Woolworths

NAME

Maurice James Managing Director COMPANY Qube Holdings

NAME

Mark Mazurek Chief Executive Officer

COMPANY

Linfox Logistics

NAME

Anthony Jones Chief Executive Officer

COMPANY

LINX Cargo Care Group

BOARD POSITION CESSATIONS

Geoff Farnsworth (October 2019)

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8 ANNUAL REPORT 2019

ABOUT US

The Australian Logistics Council (ALC) is the peak national body representing major companies participating in the freight logistics industry. ALC’s policy focus is on delivering enhanced supply chain efficiency and safety.

ALC’s members are located right across Australia, are drawn from all parts of the supply chain, and represent all modes of freight transport.

The broad industry experience of our members gives ALC a unique capacity to proactively advocate on a wide range of policy matters, and means we are recognised as an authoritative industry voice by governments and the media alike.

The interests of ALC’s members are interests shared by all Australians - because we all have an interest as consumers, customers, businesses and employees in creating more efficient and safe supply chains to reduce unnecessary costs, strengthen our economy and improve the liveability of our communities.

ALC works with government at all levels to ensure they consider freight logistics in their approach to infrastructure investment planning and other policy decisions that will contribute to more efficient national supply chains which maximise benefits to the national economy.

A practical, nationally consistent approach to regulation that avoids wasteful duplication and the imposition of needless costs on freight logistics operators is a key aim of ALC advocacy.

All of ALC’s advocacy activities are underpinned by a desire to reduce the human and economic costs of unsafe industry practices by equipping industry participants with the information and tools they need to meet their safety obligations.

The broad industry experience

of our members gives ALC a

unique capacity to proactively

advocate on a wide range of policy

matters

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9

MEMBERSHIP & FINANCE COMMITTEE

WORKING GROUPS

Technology committeeChair: David McNeil, Customer Service & Fulfilment Manager, Infrabuild Steel» Work with industry and

government to ensure national consistency in the development and implementation of regulatory frameworks for new technologies, such as in-vehicle telematics

» Work to promote greater recognition and more widespread adoption of technologies that will underpin improved productivity, efficiency and safety outcomes across the supply chain

» Encourage increased focus on energy efficiency in transport and logistics delivery

» Support industry efforts to enhance productivity through greater utilisation of technologies, such as automation.

Safety CommitteeChair: Karen Bonenfant, Health & Safety Manager, Bluescope» Ongoing development

and promotion of industry driven solutions to Chain of Responsibility (CoR) obligations

» Communication on CoR obligations to company Chairs, Boards, Chief Executives and senior supply chain executives

» Promotion, development and administration of specific industry supply chain logistics safety codes to drive national consistency and manage CoR obligations.

» Electric Vehicles Working Group

» Northern Australia Working Group

ALC SECRETARIAT

ALC COUNCILThe ALC Council receives high

level access to significant political leaders and brings together

Managing Directors and Chief Executive Officers of the ALC Corporate membership

ALC BOARD

Infrastructure & Regulation committeeChair: Greg Pauline, Director Infrastructure and Property, Qube Holdings» Collaboration with industry,

community and government to develop and implement nationally consistent and best practice logistics regulatory frameworks

» Advocacy to COAG and Transport and Infrastructure Council

» Work with industry to provide holistic comment on national, state and local government regulation

» Engagement and provision of comment on National Transport Commission regulatory reform

» Advocacy on nationally significant logistics infrastructure that supports improved productivity

» Provide comment on national and state freight logistics plans including the National Land Freight and National Ports strategies

» Collaboration with the private sector to harness greater investment in infrastructure

» Ensure greater transparency and rigour behind nationally significant infrastructure

» Ensure resource related infrastructure including roads, rail, shipping and ports are designed and implemented utilising best practice methodologies.

ORGANISATIONAL CHART

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10 ANNUAL REPORT 2019

OUR VALUES Accountable: Committed to delivering sound evidence-based supply chain logistics advocacy on behalf of our members.

Collaborative: Working within appropriate legal and governance frameworks to support the effective delivery of supply chain logistics advocacy.

Innovative: Continuously scanning the environment to leverage opportunities and information to provide innovative best practice supply chain logistics advocacy.

Responsive: Quickly responding to emerging logistics issues to ensure Australia has safe, secure, reliable, sustainable and internally competitive supply chains.

Effective: Work with industry, the community and government to ensure Australian freight supply chain outcomes are cohesive and collaborative.

Efficient: Effective utilisation of our resources to ensure that our staff are supported to deliver proactive and high quality advocacy and policy advice.

STAFF

Kirk Coningham Chief Executive Officer

Christina Birnie Events and Marketing Manager (Maternity leave cover until June 2019)

Kerry Corke Policy Consultant

Ben Damiano Policy Officer (until April 2019)

Stuart McKay Policy & Advocacy Officer (from April 2019)

Julia Collins Safety Manager (from March 2019)

Kirstie Clarkson Events and Marketing Manager

Simon Morgan Director Government & Communications

Committed to delivering sound evidence-based supply chain logistics advocacy on behalf of

our members.

DELIVERY

BUSINESS

TRANSPORTSUPPLY

LOGISTICS

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11

Government Stakeholders» Council of Australian Governments» Transport and Infrastructure Council» Transport and Infrastructure Senior

Officials’ Committee» Department of Infrastructure,

Transport, Regional Development & Communications

» Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet

» Related State and Territory Government Departments

» National Transport Commission» Infrastructure Australia and State

Infrastructure Organisations» National Regulators» Australian Competition and Consumer

Commission» Productivity Commission» Safe Work Australia» Local Governments

Industry Stakeholders » National logistics and supply chain:

– Customers– Providers– Infrastructure owners– Service and product suppliers

» National and state allied industry associations

» International transport and logistics organisations

WHO ARE OUR CURRENT STAKEHOLDERS?

ALC STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK

INTENT

To provide a link between industry, government and the community to promote effective freight logistics supply chain policy with regards to people, regulation, infrastructure, safety and technology

KEY ISSUES

ALC focuses its advocacy efforts on key areas with the aim of improving supply chain performance, including:1. Safety

2. Technology

3. Infrastructure

4. Regulation.

AIM

To represent the major Australian logistics supply chain customers, providers, infrastructure owners and suppliers.

VISION

To be the lead advocacy organisation in Australia for supply chain efficiency and safety.

GOALS

1. Nationally recognised (the leader)

2. Leading advocate (the promoter)

3. Economic contribution (the advocator)

4. Expert regarding working together (the collaborator)

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12 ANNUAL REPORT 2019

ALC FORUM 2019ALC Forum 2019 saw 300 people gather at the Melbourne Cricket Ground from 5-7 March to hear from leading industry and political figures, discuss the challenges that face all parts of the supply chain and explore possible solutions for meeting those challenges.

EVENTS 2019

Taking place just two months prior to the 2019 Federal Election, participants were able to hear directly from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Hon. Michael McCormack MP and the then Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development, Hon. Anthony Albanese MP about their policy priorities for the industry.

Victoria’s Minister for Ports and Freight, Hon. Melissa Horne MP, also outlined the Victorian Government’s forward agenda for infrastructure development off the back of the updated Victorian Freight Plan, released in mid-2018.

The program highlighted areas of increasing interest for the freight logistics industry, including electric vehicles, applying data and technology to secure greater supply chain efficiency and safety and a discussion on supply chain issues in Northern Australia, facilitated by Hon. Eva Lawler MLA, NT Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics.

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13

Plenary sessions at ALC Forum 2019 permitted a thorough exploration of critical issues, which led to key priorities for the next year being identified. These include:

Leveraging bipartisan support for the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy to maintain momentum for its development through the federal election cycle and ensure its release in 2019.

Supporting the needs of industry by pursuing a National Corridor Protection Strategy - and ensuring planning instruments nation-wide recognise ‘freight and logistics lands’ as a distinct concept;

Promoting greater awareness of supply chain safety by highlighting the relevance of the Master Code for all supply chain participants and highlighting the contribution that new technologies can make to enhance safety for all road users;

Continuing to advocate for the greater uptake of electric vehicles in the freight sector to realise environmental and operational efficiencies;

Transforming Northern Australia’s potential into a reality by better recognising the region’s unique characteristics, enhancing its freight infrastructure and utilising its existing supply chain capacity to take advantage of growth in key export markets;

Ensuring that the industry is not used as a ‘cash cow’ through the imposition of poorly-designed levies and charges (such as the proposed Biosecurity Imports Levy), without prior industry consultation and preparation of a thorough Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS);

Building a sustainable workforce for the industry by aligning skills training programs to future needs – and transforming workplace culture in a way that attracts and retains personnel from a wide range of backgrounds to pursue careers in logistics;

Promoting greater certainty for investors by highlighting the dangers of an ad-hoc approach to infrastructure investment and encouraging long-term investment models that prioritise need over political expediency;

Working to move more freight by rail, given growing port volumes and the urgent need to address road congestion. This means developing port rail shuttles, separating passenger and freight rail, and ensuring that Inland Rail includes efficient rail connections to ports, including the Port of Brisbane;

Pursuing opportunities for shipping to share in a growing freight task by ensuring that ports are able to operate efficiently and are not inhibited by urban encroachment and road congestion that arises from poor planning practices; and

Harmonising regulatory requirements around freight movement across jurisdictional boundaries, recognising that a national economy is underpinned by a national supply chain. This includes preventing the imposition of further restrictions on freight movement, including air noise curfews and bans on freight vehicle access.

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14 ANNUAL REPORT 2019

INLAND RAIL CONFERENCE 2019

More than 460 delegates took part in the 2019 Inland Rail Conference in Toowoomba on 21-22 August 2019, which was again jointly presented by ALC and Australasian Railway Association (ARA).

Participants explored multiple facets of this nationally significant freight infrastructure project and set out the actions needed to ensure local communities, consumers, producers, freight operators and the Australian economy derive the full benefits of Inland Rail, both during the construction phase and once it is operational.

Once again, this industry-led conference demonstrated

there is genuine excitement about the transformation

Inland Rail will bring to our freight networks.

As the engaged participation of attendees across the two days of the conference clearly showed, this enthusiasm is not limited to rail operators. It is shared by local communities, exporters and all forward-looking industry participants who understand the changing nature of the freight task.

Attendees were deeply saddened during the conference to learn of the passing of former Deputy Prime Minister and passionate rail transport advocate, the Hon. Tim Fischer AC. Delegates paid tribute to his decades of service to the nation with a standing ovation.

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15

Among the key conclusions to emerge from the Inland Rail Conference were:

Interconnectivity is everything. While Inland Rail will play a critical role as a ‘spine’ in our freight network, it will ultimately rely on connections to other key freight infrastructure, including intermodal hubs and ports.

Collaboration between governments is essential. Governments at all levels right along the alignment need to be working together. This will ensure landholders and communities will are supported during planning and to share in the benefits of Inland Rail as soon as possible. Delegates urged the Queensland government and the Commonwealth to sign the Intergovernmental Agreement that will allow construction work in Queensland to begin.

Port connectivity is critical. Separation of passenger and freight rail in our cities is critical for our supply chain efficiency. The release of the joint study undertaken by the Commonwealth and Queensland governments into freight rail links between the Acacia Ridge and the Port of Brisbane should be expedited.

Getting the Balance Right. To maximise the benefits of Inland Rail, complementary investment and regulatory reform is required across four key critical areas; road pricing; data capture and sharing; achieving the right modal balance across modes and getting terminals right.

Meeting Customers’ Demands. Customers’ targets for the Inland Rail Project include reliability of service, improved connectivity, sustainability of freight services, express capability under 24 hours and seamless last mile arrangements.

Community engagement is crucial. By proactively working with local communities, sourcing local materials and using local contractors to support delivery of the project, Inland Rail will deliver an economic boost to regional communities, during and beyond its construction phase. Genuine, open and honest consultation with land owners must continue to occur to ensure affected landowners have opportunities to provide input on the route alignment.

Inland Rail will diversify regional workforces. Through initiatives such as the Inland Rail Skills Academy, the construction of Inland Rail will provide regional workforces with the skills needed to maintain and oversee the operation of Australia’s modern rail freight network into the future.

Advantages of Inland Rail for urban communities should be highlighted. The project will help improve the environmental performance of the freight sector by lowering emissions, will make it easier to get fresh produce to urban markets and will help to address road and rail congestion for urban residents. It is important to recognise that the benefits of Inland Rail extend beyond regional communities.

Data capture allows for more effective investment decisions. Industry participants across all modes of freight transport should actively support initiatives like the National Freight Data Hub, so that supply chain performance can be monitored and measured.

Inland Rail aligns with actions outlined in the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy. As states along the alignment publish implementation plans for the Strategy, they must set out how new freight infrastructure will connect with Inland Rail, and indicate deadlines for the competition of such infrastructure.

New freight precincts must incorporate viable rail links. The National Planning Principles, which the Commonwealth has agreed to develop as part of the Strategy, should require new intermodals and freight precincts to demonstrate how they will link with relevant rail infrastructure, including Inland Rail.

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16 ANNUAL REPORT 2019

2019 ALC & ATA SUPPLY CHAIN SAFETY SUMMIT

Jointly presented by ALC and the Australian Trucking Association (ATA), the two-day Summit held at the Hilton Sydney on 16-17 September 2019 set out a number of priority actions for governments, industry and the community to collaboratively pursue over the next year to deliver stronger safety outcomes across the supply chain.

A series of keynote addresses challenged delegates to reassess some traditional methods of managing and measuring safety risks, emphasising a need to identify and remove ineffective and meaningless bureaucratic practices that make no material difference to safety, and in some cases even increase safety risks.

Attendees heard from the Hon. Scott Buchholz MP, Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport, the Shadow Assistant Minister for Road Safety, Senator Glenn Sterle, and the Hon. Paul Toole MP, NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads about their policy priorities for enhanced safety.

Delegates also heard moving personal stories from those who have been personally affected by catastrophic safety incidents and from heavy vehicle drivers about the type of practical assistance and support from industry which they need to make their working lives safer and easier.

Keynote addresses challenged delegates to reassess some

traditional methods of managing and measuring safety risks

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17

2019 ALC & ATA SUPPLY CHAIN SAFETY SUMMIT

Through a series of panel discussions and interactive workshops, Summit participants identified areas where government, regulators and the industry itself can continue to improve. These included:

Mental health is everyone’s business. Industry needs to continue its efforts to ‘normalise’ discussion about mental health in the workplace and ensure jobs are designed to minimise risks to mental health. Industry should be supported in building mental health awareness into workforce training modules.

Further support is needed to address alcohol and drug issues. There is a clear relationship between mental health issues and substance abuse in the workplace. Governments should support industry to develop specific initiatives that will allow organisations to respond effectively to alcohol and drug misuse, and ensure those affected get support they need.

First aid training is vital. Not all incidents occur in populated areas, or locations to which first responders have ready access. All industry participants should be supported to ensure they are trained in first aid – and to ensure their first aid qualifications remain up to date.

Advances in technology should be embraced within safety management. This includes promoting the collection of data through telematics to manage safety risks, taking advantage of apps that can help track and support those dealing with mental health challenges, and embracing the use of technology such as virtual reality to enhance the quality of workplace safety training.

Rethinking the bureaucratic practices that are increasingly being used to define safety management. Some within the industry are finding safety documentation increasingly complex and time-consuming to complete. The focus needs to return to identifying and managing actual risks, rather than completing paperwork.

Stepping up efforts to reduce duplication throughout the auditing system for heavy vehicle safety. This includes working to develop a set of common audit standards and standard auditing qualifications, so that there is industry confidence about the quality of audits and the quality of auditors.

Countering the ‘tick and flick’ culture in safety management. There is little research indicating that forms and checklists are greatly effective in addressing safety risks. We need to transition from measuring activity to measuring outcomes.

Clarifying the roles of regulators in safety. Some industry participants are finding it difficult to understand the demarcation of responsibilities between the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) and various state-based work health and safety agencies in the regulation of safety

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18 ANNUAL REPORT 2019

2019 ALC SUPPLY CHAIN TECHNOLOGY & DATA SUMMIT

The second ALC Supply Chain Technology & Data Summit took place in Melbourne on 19 November 2019, and featured presentations, demonstrations and panel discussions that featured prominent designers and providers of technology systems, researchers, regulatory and policy-making bodies, and industry participants from across the supply chain.

In addition to examining the potential of technology solutions now on offer to the industry, Summit participants also explored some of the regulatory barriers, market hesitations and infrastructure impediments that are inhibiting the uptake of technology by some supply chain participants.

The overarching theme to emerge from the Summit was the need for a more proactive embrace of technology, using it to identify business opportunities, manage performance and control safety risks.

Industry and the wider community will be far better served if technology can be used to identify problems and prevent safety incidents before they emerge, rather than using data and technology as a reactive tool to determine why initiatives fail, or why accidents occur

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19

The priorities to be pursued were agreed as follows:

Agreeing a single data standard for use in Australia is central to unlocking productivity benefits for the industry. Facilitating interoperability between different types of data-collection equipment and promoting rapid information sharing are critical to optimising supply chain performance;

Pursuing enhanced supply chain visibility and international competitiveness in Australia by encouraging supply chain participants to adopt the use of global data standards (GDS) in their day-to-day operations. There is a particular need to enhance the visibility of freight once it leaves ports;

Adopting a proactive rather than reactive approach to the use of technology and data sharing in logistics operations. This is particularly relevant to improving safety outcomes, where technology can be deployed to enhance the quality of safety training and in-vehicle telematics and safety equipment can be used to prevent incidents, rather than to investigate the cause of incidents after the fact;

Highlighting the major advances that technology can bring to industry safety. This includes using the review of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) to pursue mandatory collection of data through the use of in-vehicle telematics, as well as deploying the Advanced Train Management System (ATMS) developed by the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC);

Overcoming industry reluctance around data sharing by ensuring there is a rigorous framework in place that protects privacy and commerciality of data. We must make certain that data sets are appropriately aggregated and presented in a fashion that promotes better decision-making around investments and operations, but does not threaten the commercial interests of operators, or the privacy of customers;

Demonstrating the commercial benefits of supply chain technology more clearly, particularly opportunities to reduce administrative costs and red-tape through the introduction of systems that eliminate duplication of tasks and the risk of errors through manual data entry and paper-based systems;

Helping the freight logistics industry to understand what it wants to achieve though the use of technologies like blockchain or policy initiatives such as the National Freight Data Hub. These can only be ‘solutions’ if we first understand the problems we want to solve, or the questions we need answered;

Developing a more sophisticated understanding among industry participants and policy-makers about the operational, safety, environmental and commercial benefits of electric vehicle (EV) and autonomous vehicle technology. Governments must also be persuaded to help drive the switch to EVs as a last-mile delivery solution by providing concessions on stamp duty and vehicle registration charges for fleet managers and for small businesses; and

Enhancing the quality of vocational training opportunities to reflect the fact that the industry’s future workforce will require competencies in the management of technology and the ability to interpret and respond appropriately to data as core skills. This will be vital to protecting the long-term viability of the industry by ensuring we attract quality personnel from diverse backgrounds.

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20 ANNUAL REPORT 2019

ALC

DIALOGUE

The ninth annual Dialogue between ALC and the Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities was held in Canberra on 23 October 2019.

As the first Dialogue to take place following the release of the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy, this was an early opportunity for ALC members to focus on areas where further work will be needed to ensure the Strategy delivers on its stated objectives.

In addition to representatives from ALC member companies, Dialogue was also attended by participants from a number of other transport industry associations and other peak bodies.

Among the key items address by Dialogue sessions were:

» Implementation arrangements for the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy;

» Land Transport Market Reform – including progress on road pricing reform and the development of National Service Level Standards;

» Rail Policy – including development of the draft National Rail Plan and opportunities for greater harmonisation and efficiency gains through the Productivity Commission’s review of national transport regulation;

» Skills and sector workforce issues – including need to better align contemporary neds of industry with the content of course provided by Registered Training Organisations (RTOs);

» The critical design elements for an effective National Freight Data Hub; and

» Opportunities to enhance Australia’s export performance through international supply chain benchmarking.

An opportunity for ALC members to focus on areas

where further work will be needed

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21

Each year, the ALC Parliamentary Event brings the industry’s senior leaders together with political decision-makers, and is an important opportunity to highlight the contribution the freight logistics industry makes to the nation as a whole.

ALC members had the opportunity to put questions to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minster for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Hon. Michael McCormack MP, Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Hon. Alan Tudge MP, and the Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Hon. Catherine King MP.

In the evening, the Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport, Hon. Scott Buchholz MP addressed ALC members during the day’s concluding drinks, which were also attended by a number of other parliamentarians from all parties.

The Parliamentary Event also saw ALC release Help Us Deliver – which outlined opportunities around Australia to deal with bottlenecks in our supply chains through targeted infrastructure investments and help make certain the freight network continues to operate efficiently and safely.

ALC

PARLIAMENTARY EVENTThe 2019 ALC Parliamentary Event was also held on 23 October 2019, following the conclusion of Dialogue earlier in the day.

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22 ANNUAL REPORT 2019

Release of the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy

ALC was present at the meeting of the COAG Transport and Infrastructure Council (TIC) in Adelaide on 2 August 2019 where Ministers representing all jurisdictions agreed to the release of the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy.

A clear National Strategy to enhance the efficiency and safety of Australia’s supply chains has has been a long-term policy objective for ALC and was enthusiastically supported by industry participants since the Federal Government agreed to its development in November 2016.

ALC’s members made a substantial contribution to progressing the Strategy’s development, beginning with the industry-led Inquiry that comprehensively established the issues that needed to be addressed, participating in government-led consultation sessions around the country that helped to clarify priority action areas, and by supporting the development of ALC’s series of Discussion Papers that were used to help inform the development of the Strategy itself.

As a result, Australia now has a clear set of actions for improving supply chain efficiency which all governments nation-wide have committed to pursue.

The Strategy was accompanied by a National Action Plan which identifies four key focus areas, as follows:

» Smarter and targeted infrastructure investment;

» Enable improved supply chain efficiency;

» Better planning, coordination and regulation; and

» Better freight location and performance data.

ALC was especially pleased that the Strategy committed to the establishment of a National Freight Data Hub and to developing a set of National Planning Principles, both of which are initiatives that have been long-standing priorities for ALC members and for many in the industry.

The Commonwealth Government has also advised that as part of its implementation plan, there will be updated mapping of key freight routes and hubs.

The National Action Plan also contains commitments from the Commonwealth to several new notable actions, including:

» Benchmarking performance of key import and export supply chains against international competitors;

» Developing a national framework for High Productivity Vehicles (HPVs);

» Convening a National Urban Freight Planning Forum; and

» Developing a Transport Sector Skills Strategy.

All jurisdictions have agreed to provide reports to the Transport and Infrastructure Council meeting held towards the end of each year outlining the progress that has been made in implementing the agreed actions contained in the Strategy.

Ahead of this meeting in late 2020, ALC will be publishing its own scorecard that provides an independent industry assessment of how effectively each jurisdiction has fulfilled its undertakings and highlighting any areas of concern to industry.

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23

KEY POLICY

PUBLICATIONS DON’T BOX US INALC released Don’t Box Us In in March 2019 as the third in its series of industry discussion papers around the development and implementation of a National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy.

Don’t Box Us In sets out how the Federal Government can take a more active leadership role to drive better planning outcomes for freight logistics operators and ensure that freight movement is properly embedded in our planning systems.

Although planning is primarily a matter for state and local governments, there is capacity for the federal government to act. Indeed, there are precedents for such action.

In the 1990s, the Federal Government made incentive payments to state and territory governments that undertook economic reforms as part of National Competition Policy. More recently, the Federal Government has offered incentive payments to the NSW Government and relevant local governments to support reforms that will accelerate housing supply in Western Sydney.

In the lead-up to the 2019 Federal Election, the Opposition had also signalled it was open to the use of incentive payments as part of its proposed COAG Economic Reform Council.

Further, the Constitution provides the Federal Government with the capacity to provide grants – known as ‘specific purpose payments’ – to states and territories, attaching such conditions as it sees fit.

Such payments are often used by the Federal Government to invest in areas over which it has no formal constitutional authority, including health, school education and road funding initiatives.

Don’t Box Us In suggests that this mechanism should be used to ensure that state governments receiving funding support for transport infrastructure do not then impose restrictions on that infrastructure that inhibit efficient freight movement. This would include limiting access to roads for heavy vehicles and the imposition of noise curfews.

HELP US DELIVERReleased on 23 October 2019 to coincide with the ALC Parliamentary Event in Canberra, Help Us Deliver sets out several opportunities around Australia to deal with bottlenecks in our supply chains through targeted infrastructure investments and help make certain the freight network continues to operate efficiently and safely.

The publication identified several opportunities to enhance existing infrastructure projects to make them more freight-friendly, as well as highlighting a number of new projects that we believe should be supported by the Federal Government in order to enhance the performance of key trade gateways, stimulating export and employment growth.

REVIEW OF THE HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAWTo help clarify industry priorities for the review of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) being undertaken by the National Transport Commission, ALC produced Assurance Models and Effective Enforcement - which comprehensively set out how the Heavy Vehicle National Law could be reformed to make it more relevant to the contemporary operating environment.

In particular, the publication highlights the need for the HVNL to incorporate a National Operating Standard, which would allow regulators to better understand the size and characteristics of the nation’s heavy vehicle fleet, and build broader community confidence that heavy vehicles are being operated by individuals who operate an effective safety management system, and have the levels of capital needed to ensure they are maintaining vehicles to an appropriate standard.

The publication also set out the opportunities available to enhance both safety and efficiency outcomes in the heavy vehicle sector by mandating the collection of data in relation to vehicle safety and performance, noting that the relative costs of purchasing the technology required to do have fallen dramatically over recent years.

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24 ANNUAL REPORT 2019

At the commencement of the formal campaign period ahead of the 18 May 2019 federal election, ALC released Freight: Delivering Opportunity for Australia, which set out 39 priority actions for the incoming Federal Government to pursue that address challenges and opportunities relevant to all modes of freight transport.

With both major parties reaffirming their commitment to delivering the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy at ALC Forum 2019, ALC used the election campaign itself to advocate a suite of measures that would bolster the effectiveness of that Strategy by addressing some of the long-term infrastructure, investment and regulatory issues that act as an impediment to a seamless national freight network.

The priorities identified addressed a range of issues, including a more consistent national approach to planning and investing in freight infrastructure, enhancing the productivity of our road and rail networks through regulatory reform and strengthening our export performance through enhanced freight infrastructure in Northern Australia.

The publication also advanced suggestions for improving the industry’s environmental performance by encouraging uptake of electric freight vehicles, ensuring the industry is able to access data that will allow more effective monitoring and measurement of supply chain performance, improving the wider community’s understanding of this industry and enhancing its ability to interact safely with freight vehicles.

FREIGHTDELIVERING OPPORTUNITY FOR AUSTRALIA

APRIL 2019

FREIGHT:

DELIVERING OPPORTUNITY

FOR AUSTRALIA

PRIORITIES FOR

THE NEXT AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT

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25

KEY POLICY

SUBMISSIONSALC continued its active program of policy advocacy and development during 2019, making formal submissions to a number of significant national and state-based policy consultations and parliamentary inquiries, as well as actively participating in government and industry-led consultative bodies designed to directly shape policy formulation.

By developing detailed policy submissions that assist governments at the federal, state and local level to shape their policy agenda, ALC is helping the industry to obtain greater national consistency in policy settings.

ALC attended and actively participated in all meetings of the COAG Transport and Infrastructure Council (TIC) in 2019, and actively engaged with relevant state and territory ministers though a mixture of formal meetings, boardroom lunches and by participating in key state-based consultative bodies and advisory panels.

Among the formal submissions provided by ALC to governments in 2019 were:

» Commonwealth Budget 2019-20

» National Transport Commission – Review of the Heavy Vehicle National Law

» Emissions Reduction Fund – Review of the Sea and Land Transport Method

» Sydney Gateway Concept Design

» Productivity Commission – National Transport Regulatory Reform

» South Australia’s 20 Year Infrastructure Strategy

» Senate Select Committee on the Effectiveness of the Australian Government’s Northern Australia Agenda

» Joint Standing Committee on Trade and Investment Growth – Inquiry Into Supporting Australia’s Exports and Attracting Investment

» Transport and Infrastructure Senior Officials Committee (TISOC) – Making a Modern Heavy Vehicle National Law

» Transport and Infrastructure Senior Official Committee (TISOC) – The National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy – From Ambitions to Outcomes

» Senate Select Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport – Inquiry into the importance of a viable, safe, sustainable and efficient road transport industry

» Senate Select Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport - Inquiry into Management of the Inland Rail Project

» Statutory Review of the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility Act 2016

» Design of the National Freight Data Hub

ASSURANCE

MODELS AND EFFECTIVE

ENFORCEMENTOCTOBER 2019

ALC RESPONSE TO THE NATIONAL

TRANSPORT COMMISSION REVIEW OF THE

HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

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26 ANNUAL REPORT 2019

COMMUNICATIONS

ALC IN THE MEDIAALC maintained a consistent presence in mainstream, social and trade media outlets in 2019.

A core objective for ALC’s advocacy is to use media outlets to place our industry’s views and policies before the public, who can exert influence over policy-makers.

During 2019 ALC issued over 40 media releases, published opinion pieces in key mainstream media outlets including The Australian and appeared on television news programs.

We also commenced a regular monthly column in Rail Express magazine, adding to our regular monthly contributions to Prime Mover and MHD Supply Chain Solutions magazine.

These media engagement activities resulted in more than 250 mentions in trade and mainstream media outlets for ALC throughout 2019.

LOGISTICS. WE BRING IT.This one-minute video highlighting the centrality of freight movement in the day-to-day lives of all Australians was released at ALC Forum 2019 and published on social media channels. It has also been used by ALC to introduce our presentations at external stakeholder events.

PRESENTATIONSThroughout 2019, ALC representatives were invited to present at a number of significant industry gatherings and meetings of key bodies, to highlight the important role Australia’s freight logistics industry plays in economic activity, and underscore the importance of greater supply chain efficiency and safety for businesses and local communities.

Some of the industry events at which ALC presented during 2019 included:

» Moorebank Intermodal Company Stakeholder Event – 20 February 2019

» GS1 Australia NeXus 2019 – 17 May 2019

» Canning Intelligent Logistics Area Design Thinking Sprint – 20 May 2019

» Moorebank Intermodal Terminal Open Access Consultation Session – 18 June 2019

» Developing Northern Australia Conference (Karratha) – 9 July 2019

» Western Sydney Business Chamber FRESH! - 11 July 2019

» Telstra Vantage – 5 September 2019

» Logan City Council Freight and Logistics Roundtable – 11 September 2019

» Freight and Logistics Council of WA – 25 September 2019

» Future Food Systems CRC Workshop – 18 October 2019

» Freight Exchange Roundtable – 21 October 2019

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27

ALC MEDIA RELEASES 2019ALC Appoints Kirk Coningham OAM as CEO – 14 January 2019

NSW Focus On Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Welcomed – 21 January 2019

Electric Vehicles Report Misses Opportunities For Freight – 31 January 2019

Budget Must Enable Implementation Of Freight Strategy – 1 February 2019

Infrastructure Priority List Highlights Freight Infrastructure Opportunities – 14 February 2019

NSW Move On Road Ownership Will Enhance Supply Chain Performance – 24 February 2019

Bipartisan Commitment To National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy Welcomed – 7 March 2019

ALC Forum 2019 – Concluding Statement – 8 March 2019

Queensland Freight Strategy Strives To Use Technology To Deliver Efficiency and Safety – 13 March 2019

ALC Seeking Immediate Clarification from NSW Opposition on Stamp Duty Increases – 14 March 2019

ALC Welcomes Forward-Planning on Hobart Road Infrastructure – 20 March 2019

CSIRO Study Highlights Supply Chain Benefits Of Inland Rail – 21 March 2019

Labor EV Policy Presents Opportunity For Freight Sector – 1 April 2019

Effects Of Industrial Action Will Hurt Consumers – 1 April 2019

Budget Paves Way For More Effective Freight Strategy – 2 April 2019

PC Review Welcome Opportunity To Improve Freight Productivity – 5 April 2019

Welcome Progress On Freight Strategy, But More To Be Done – 6 April 2019

National Supply Chains Must Be Key Election Focus – 11 April 2019

Inquiry Must Not Delay Inland Rail Construction – 22 April 2019

ALC Highlights Federal Election Priorities – 23 April 2019

Parties Must Address Freight Priorities In Final Days – 9 May 2019

ALC Applauds Investment In Tasmanian Freight Infrastructure – 23 May 2019

ALC Congratulates Coalition On Election Win – 20 May 2019

Industry Welcomes Focus On Freight In New Ministry – 28 May 2019

Trade Deals Fill Only Half The Need As Supply Chain Lags – 21 June 2019

Queensland Move On Permits Will Boost Freight Productivity – 27 June 2019

Industry Urges Union To Embrace Progress and Boost Productivity – 19 July 2019

Federal Politicians Sign Up For 2019 Inland Rail Conference – 1 August

Strategy Implementation Needs Real Details, Real Dollars, Real Deadlines – 2 August

Infrastructure Audit Strengthens Case For Action On Freight – 13 August 2019

Joint Media Release – Rail Industry Pays Tribute to Hon. Tim Fischer AC – 22 August 2019

2019 Inland Rail Conference – Statement of Conclusions – 27 August 2019

Truck Access Ramps Must Be Reinstated On Sydney Gateway – 16 September 2019

2019 ALC & ATA Supply Chain Safety Summit – Concluding Statement – 24 September 2019

Canberra Spotlight on Freight Infrastructure Opportunities – 23 October 2019

ALC Congratulates Incoming Departmental Secretary – 8 November 2019

Draft PC Report Makes Case to Lift Pace of Reform – 12 November 2019

ALC Thanks Toll MD Michael Byrne for Safety Leadership – 15 November 2019

2019 ALC Supply Chain Technology & Data Summit – Concluding Statement – 21 November 2019

Implementation Plans Need Further Clarity, More Accountability – 28 November 2019

ALC Welcomes Queensland Agreement on Inland Rail – 29 November 2019

Biosecurity Charge Increases An Unwelcome Christmas Surprise – 11 December 2019

TfNSW Data Hub a Welcome Tool for Industry – 16 December 2019

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28 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 #ALCForum2020

28-29 OCTOBER 2020 WILLIAM INGLIS HOTEL, WARWICK FARM

www.austlogistics.com.au/ALCForum2020

Join us as Australia’s most significant annual supply chain industry event comes to Western Sydney for the first time.

ALC FORUM 2020 - Annual report ad.indd 1ALC FORUM 2020 - Annual report ad.indd 1 16/03/2020 1:25:14 PM16/03/2020 1:25:14 PM

ALC OPINION PIECE

As published in The Australian, 21 June 2019

The Asian Century is well and truly upon us, with data showing that Asian economies will be larger than the rest of the world combined and home to half of the world’s middle class by next year.

Successive Australian governments have recognised the opportunity that comes with our proximity to Asia and our unique capacity to fuel and feed the growing prosperity of our near neighbours. Our need to boost exports and take advantage of this increasing demand has been behind the present government’s aggressive pursuit of free trade agreements with key regional trading partners including South Korea, Japan, China and Indonesia over recent years.

This is good policy. Rising incomes among the rapidly growing ranks of the middle class in all these nations are fuelling lucrative new markets for Australian goods and services — particularly in the agricultural sector.

Of course, trade agreements are equally positive for consumers in Australia, as some of our key imports including items such as petroleum, furniture, wood and footwear no longer have tariffs applied to them, meaning lower prices for households and businesses.

Yet, the mere act of signing an agreement is no guarantee of an outcome. Intentions must be supported with policy actions. If the critical freight infrastructure servicing Australia’s supply chains is not operating at optimal levels of efficiency and safety, then the productivity and competitive advantages offered by free-trade agreements will be muted.

It is a characteristic of many of Australia’s major ports that they are located in proximity to our major cities. The increasing desirability of inner-city living — which is partly a function of Australia’s decline in manufacturing and economic reorientation as a services-based economy — is having a profound impact on the ability of freight logistics professionals to meet business and consumer expectations around delivery of goods.

Restrictive practices such as noise curfews and heavy-vehicle bans on certain routes may seem appealing as a quick fix when it comes to addressing concerns of inner-urban residents. However, ultimately denying freight logistics operators the flexibility they need to do their jobs effectively harms productivity, and means consumers pay more for goods.

In the same vein, prioritising residential developments over logistics lands when it comes to land-use planning will ultimately hamper our economic performance. Placing large-scale residential developments in proximity to ports gives rise to externalities such as road congestion that reduce community amenity and add to consumer costs.

So, what can be done to address these issues? Although planning policy is primarily a matter for state and local governments, our supply chains do not stop at state borders. A consistent nationwide approach to planning and prioritising freight movement is urgently needed — and demands leadership at the national level.

Given the crucial role that Australia’s ports play in facilitating the import of goods relied upon by all Australian households and businesses and the export of goods to Asian markets, it is entirely fitting that the federal government incentivises planning practices and the development of infrastructure that ensures Australia’s port precincts are accessible, efficient and safe.

This may include rewarding jurisdictions that can demonstrate a coherent approach to corridor protection, do not impose curfews on port operations, take action to address road congestion in port precincts through increased use of short-haul rail, or provide dedicated infrastructure that facilitates heavy vehicle access to ports.

Similarly, the federal government can support greater productivity in our supply chains by capturing and analysing data that identifies pinch-points in the freight network and helps target infrastructure investment more effectively. The establishment of a National Freight Data Hub, as announced in the federal budget, is a positive step in this regard.

Our ports are the pulse points for Australia’s entire supply chain, underpinning the nation’s continued economic health.

Kirk Coningham is CEO of the Australian Logistics Council

TRADE DEALS FILL ONLY HALF THE NEED AS SUPPLY CHAIN LAGS

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29#ALCForum2020

28-29 OCTOBER 2020 WILLIAM INGLIS HOTEL, WARWICK FARM

www.austlogistics.com.au/ALCForum2020

Join us as Australia’s most significant annual supply chain industry event comes to Western Sydney for the first time.

ALC FORUM 2020 - Annual report ad.indd 1ALC FORUM 2020 - Annual report ad.indd 1 16/03/2020 1:25:14 PM16/03/2020 1:25:14 PM

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ALC UpdateALC Update is a free newsletter emailed to all our members and stakeholders each month highlighting ALC’s policy and advocacy activities, news from our members and general industry updates.Subscribe via www.austlogistics.com.au

PO Box 20 DEAKIN WEST ACT 2600 P: +61 2 6273 0755 E: [email protected] www.austlogistics.com.au

@ AustLogistics Australian Logistics Council


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