With the reappointment of the Labor government following the federal election, the Australian Logistics Council says the federal government must continue to focus on freight infrastructure.
The ALC congratulated Catherine King on her reappointment as Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, with the hopes of continuing a strong working relationship focused on lifting the productivity, resilience and sustainability of Australia’s supply chains.
ALC CEO and Managing Director Hermione Parsons says the reappointment of King will help to provide continuity for supply chain logistics and freight infrastructure.
“ALC welcomes Minister King’s return to the portfolio and her ongoing commitment to strategic integrated urban and regional planning and infrastructure investment,” she says.
“The supply chain and freight transport sector will continue to rely on a coordinated national approach to resolve key network constraints in urban and regional environments – upon which our current and future import, export and domestic supply chain competitiveness relies.
“Freight infrastructure must be recognised as an enabler of national productivity. Minister King is well placed to lead the next phase of reform in collaboration with state and territory governments.”
The ALC has called on the federal government to prioritise several key areas, including:
- Progressing the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy with clear accountability mechanisms, measurable actions, and sustained federal leadership.
- Securing industrial land and protecting freight corridors from urban encroachment through stronger integration with planning systems
- Addressing rail bottlenecks and intermodal access issues that undermine the efficiency of the national freight network.
Parsons says the ALC supports the freight sector’s readiness to collaborate with the government on advancing decarbonisation, reducing regulatory burden, and addressing persistent workforce pressures.
“The freight transport task is growing, expectations on emissions and transparency are increasing, and our workforce is ageing,” Parsons says.
“Minister King’s leadership will be vital to ensuring the policy, regulatory and investment environment keeps pace.
“ALC and its members stand ready to support the Minister’s efforts to advance a freight policy agenda that is nationally coordinated, technologically enabled and fit for the future.
“We welcome the opportunity to brief Minister King and to work in close partnership to deliver a more connected, decarbonised and resilient freight system for all Australians.”
Other priority actions for the federal government include:
- Deployment of enabling infrastructure for zero-emission freight vehicles, including charging and refuelling sites along freight corridors;
- Regulatory harmonisation across jurisdictions to reduce compliance burden and support technology uptake—particularly in vehicle access, standards and licensing; and
- Building workforce capacity and capability, through coordinated skills pipelines, career awareness, and a renewed national approach to occupational licensing.
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