New ‘minister for congestion busting’ replaces Fletcher, Buchholz in support
Political upheaval in the Liberal Party has led to one ministerial change in the federal government related to freight transport and logistics.
Paul Fletcher’s time as urban infrastructure and cities appears to have earnt him promotion to cabinet, where he takes the families and social services portfolios over from Dan Tehan.
In his place will be Victorian MP Alan Tudge — in a tweaked responsibility that covers cities, urban infrastructure and now population — who resigned as citizenship and multicultural affairs minister in the lead-up to home affairs minister Peter Dutton’s challenge to then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull.
Appointment details and swearing in are yet to be finalised but, with McCormack already having a great deal on his plate, the expectation is that Tudge will now have carriage of trucking tax reform.
Read about the the latest move on road tax reform, here
Michael McCormack remains infrastructure, transport and regional development minister.
Prime minister Scott Morrison describes Tudge’s role as tackling a nationally challenging subject.
“He will be the menace of the city, urban infrastructure, and population,” Morrison says.
“Alan Tudge is the minister for congestion busting.”
Tudge has taken to the unofficial title with gusto, tweeting: “Honoured to be appointed Minister for Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Population in the new Morrison ministry.
“I look forward to my new congestion busting role.”
Though his experience in the transport and logistics sphere appears limited, road congestion has been a serious issue for him, not least in relation to his outer-eastern Melbourne electorate of Aston, where he grew up.
In his 2010 maiden address to the House of Representatives, Tudge linked the two main strands of his new calling.
“Rapid population growth is a key driver of congestion.
“As the son of immigrants, I proudly support immigration but our population is growing too quickly.
“Our population increase last year was twice that of five years ago.
“The Treasury advice to the government is that high population growth need not impact on the liveability of our cities, provided: … the right plans and policies are put in place now in anticipation of it.
“I see no such plans in place for the outer east of Melbourne.”
However, he may have given a hostage to fortune in his early opposition to road charging reforms.
“One thing I will strongly stand up against in this place, as a supposed panacea to the issue of congestion, is the government’s consideration of road congestion taxes.
“In the absence of viable alternatives to our major roads, this will be an outrageous impost on people in the suburbs and will further limit their choices and opportunities.”
However, these, along with his opposition to biofuels, were among many other issues covered in a wide-ranging first speech.
Scott Buchholz
Supporting McCormack and Tudge will be Queensland MP and chief whip Scott Buchholz as assistant minister for roads and transport.
Buchholz, who does have experience in the transport industryand holds a keen interest in the Bromelton intermodal hub’s development, pledged to bring his insights to the fore.
“As a former road transport operator, I understand industry issues and know how important a good, reliable road and transport system is to communities big and small right across Australia,” he says.
“I will draw on this previous experience and consult widely with all stakeholders to achieve the best possible outcomes in this role.
“The Morrison Liberal National government is determined to keep Australia’s economy strong, keep Australians safe and keep Australians together.
“I will work hard every day to restore stability to the Government and bring fresh ideas to help tackle the big road and transport challenges facing Australia.”
Buchholz’s maiden speech recounted his transport and distribution firm, saying: “My transition to self-employment was accelerated by tendering for and winning a courier run from Emerald to Rockhampton six nights a week, transporting the local papers and, later, courier parcels.
“I built that business to 14 depots across the state, employing 105 permanent staff and subcontractors. My wife and I have now divested ourselves of much of that, retaining only our specialised services division, comprising eight staff.
“Our company’s growth was built on a two-pronged strategy: one of internal domestic growth and the other of growth by mergers and acquisitions.”
He also pledged to “fight for my small and large business operators who struggle with ever-increasing costs of ‘over-compliance’ from all tiers of government”.
ATA view
ATA chair Geoff Crouch has welcomed the announcement of the transport ministers.
“Deputy prime minister the Hon Michael McCormack MP has shown a commitment and understanding of the importance of the trucking industry, and the ATA welcomes his continued leadership of the transport portfolio,” Crouch says.
“We also congratulate the new minister for cities, urban infrastructure and population, the Hon Alan Tudge MP, and the new assistant minister for roads and transport, Mr Scott Buchholz MP. The appointment of a former road transport operator, Mr Buchholz MP, sends a strong message about the importance of road transport.
“The ATA would also like to thank the outgoing minister for urban infrastructure and cities, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, for his commitment to engaging with industry and we wish him well in his new role.
“The new ministry comes at an important time for heavy vehicle road reform and the introduction of an independent price regulator for setting heavy vehicle charges.
“The Morrison-McCormack government has some critical decisions to make about reforming charges, and the ATA looks forward to engaging with the government on these reforms.”