Anderson highlights need for dialogue with community so all gain
The 2019 Victorian Transport Association (VTA) conference has acknowledged Australia’s growing population and freight task requires urgency and reform to ensure goods and services are delivered as efficiently as possible in the face of inevitable future challenges.
Data delivered by Freight Victoria CEO Garry Button showed the magnitude of task in Victoria alone, which is set to grow from the current rate of 360 million tonnes transported per year – excluding 100 million tonnes of waste, quarry and port movements – nearly 900 million in 30 years.
VTA CEO Peter Anderson outlined the need for an industry “united in values and outcomes such as productivity, efficiency and safety”.
“Like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon, I believe that the next few years will be an awakening for so many transport businesses of so many different shapes and sizes,” Anderson says.
“Many see the transport industry as the dark arts, fear the big and little trucks and misunderstand the importance freight industry to our standard of living.”
“It is the industry that must make the change, see ourselves as an integral part of the community, an equal stakeholder that respects all around us.
“Building dialogue and understanding within the communities that we operate is paramount to our industry coming out of our shadows and standing up as a proud member of society.”
Read how Peter Anderson prefaced the annual conference, here
Anderson notes the advent of curfews, restrictions from permits, and disruptions from poor planning adversely affecting industry but it is a malaise that can be cured by: “New HVNL that turns current laws upside down; new heavy vehicle licensing system that will see drivers trained, competent and employable from the first day they get their license; and safety regime that acknowledges advances in technology.”
His sentiments were echoed by federal transport minister Michael McCormack, espousing the benefits of a bipartisan approach and outlining the key areas of change aimed at improving the industry
He cites the Sydney airports, Inland Rail and Melbourne’s Airport Rail Link, as key infrastructure projects being delivered by the federal government as evidence of its commitment to transport and freight in Australia, along with support for the HVNL review and standardising agricultural vehicle access.
To the possible chagrin of fellow Liberal/National politicians, he says he’s prepared to work with any governments of the day to achieve positive transport outcomes.
“I’m going to be bipartisan here, I want to work with any government to get the best infrastructure deal with the people we serve,” he says.
“The people of Australia and Victoria expect us to deliver… [and we] will work for a better sector.”