The Australian Logistics Council has wasted no time in congratulating the newly elected Albanese Labor Government and reminding it the needs of Australia’s freight industry must top the priority list for the next three years.
ALC CEO and managing director Dr Hermoine Parsons said the freight, logistics and supply chain sector underpins Australia’s economic performance and living standards, moving over 800 billion tonne-kilometres of freight annually and supporting more than 1.2 million jobs.
“With supply chains facing increasing pressure from global disruptions, domestic infrastructure constraints, and persistent workforce shortages, it is essential that freight policy remains front and centre in the Government’s economic and productivity agenda,” Dr Parsons says.
Dr Parson’s welcomes the Albanese Government’s ongoing commitments to infrastructure investment, decarbonisation, and skills development, and says further policy leadership and cross-jurisdictional coordination are essential to address persistent regulatory fragmentation and unlock the full productivity potential of Australia’s freight network.
“Our industry faces growing expectations to deliver faster, cleaner, and more transparent freight services,” Parsons says.
“Meeting these expectations requires coordinated long-term planning, regulatory reform, and accelerated investment in smart infrastructure and low-emission transport technologies.
“In this new term of government, we urge the Commonwealth to prioritise delivery of the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy.
“This includes ensuring visibility and accountability in implementation— particularly in areas such as urban freight planning, corridor protection, and better use of freight data to inform decision-making.”
The ALC has a number of key policy priorities it is advocating for on behalf of the industry, including:
- Resolving critical infrastructure bottlenecks, especially in the rail freight network and intermodal connections, to improve efficiency and reduce pressure on road networks.
- Accelerated decarbonisation of the freight task, including enabling infrastructure for zero-emission heavy vehicles, investment certainty for alternative fuels, and clear regulatory pathways to support
- Embedding freight in land use and planning systems, ensuring long-term protection of freight corridors, industrial precincts and intermodal sites from encroachment, and securing access to suitable land for logistics and warehousing in strategic locations.
- Regulatory harmonisation across jurisdictions to reduce compliance costs, improve efficiency, and support technology adoption.
- Modernising workforce policy, including support for skills pipelines, safety leadership, career awareness campaigns, and practical reforms to enable a more inclusive and productive freight workforce
Dr Parsons emphasised that the sector’s performance during the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters, and global supply disruptions has highlighted its essential role.
“Freight operators are on the frontline every day—supporting communities, enabling trade, and contributing to national resilience,” she says.
“Our members are investing in smarter, cleaner and more connected freight networks. We look forward to working with the Albanese Government to ensure policy, regulation and investment settings enable this transition.”
The ALC also acknowledged the contribution of outgoing Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and thanked him for his public service.
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