The Australian Logistics Council (ALC) has welcomed the New South Wales government’s review of a crucial act while calling for legislative reform that reflects modern freight operations.
The ALC has praised the review of the Roads Act 1993 and has urged the state government to protect freight corridors that underpin supply chains and economic productivity.
In its submission to the review, the council notes that while many freight-critical routes are managed by local government, they perform essential state and national economic functions like connecting ports, intermodal terminals, manufacturing precincts and distribution hubs.
ALC CEO Dr Hermione Parsons says it’s important that these roads remain safe, efficient and reliable.
“Freight networks are integrated systems, not isolated local roads,” she says.
“A modernised Roads Act must reflect this by strengthening shared decision-making, embedding transparent access principles and protecting key freight corridors for the long term.”
She says the objective isn’t centralisation, but instead coordination and clarity.
“This is about coordination and alignment, not control,” she says.
“Local government plays a vital role, and a clearer, more consistent framework will support councils, industry and the community. When we coordinate well, we maintain liveable places, support housing and economic growth, and keep freight moving safely and efficiently.”
Parsons says recent public commentary from the NSW Premier on the need for coordinated state-wide decision-making in planning and infrastructure reinforces the value of these mechanisms to resolve issues.
The ALC submission recommends a balanced governance approach so these decisions can be managed transparently and collaboratively.
The submission calls for the Act to be modernised to ensure freight access decisions align with NSW’s Freight and Ports Plan, with key reforms including statutory freight-corridor mapping across state, local and national roads, digitised permitting, freight-impact assessment for proposed road space changes, defined review pathways for decisions impacting network-wide freight efficiency and future-ready provisions for zero-emission, automated and high-productivity freight vehicles.
“NSW needs a future-ready legislative framework, one that enables low and zero-emission freight trials, supports automation and ensures resilient detour routes when disasters strike,” Parsons says.
“Better coordination today will support safer, cleaner and more efficient freight networks tomorrow while protecting the amenity and liveability of local communities.”