Govt must deliver on five key infrastructure projects: ALC

The Australian Logistics Council (ALC) has listed five infrastructure projects it wants the Coalition government to deliver on in order to improve productivity and efficiency in the freight logistics industry.

“Mr Abbott’s wish to be known as the ‘infrastructure Prime Minister’ is to be commended and demonstrates his understanding of the strong link between appropriate road and rail infrastructure and improved productivity,” said ALC Managing Director Michael Kilgariff, speaking at the Victorian Transport and Infrastructure Summit.

“The new Coalition government needs to hit the ground running on infrastructure, as there is much to do to provide greater certainty to industry, which is needed to boost business and consumer confidence and to support greater levels of investment.

“The first critical task before the new government is to strengthen the role of Infrastructure Australia; in particular, to ensure it has the ability to rigorously analyse proposed infrastructure projects and to facilitate greater levels of private sector investment in key road and rail projects.”

The second task, Kilgariff said, is to progress an inland rail line linking the Port of Brisbane and the Port of Melbourne, as well as an airport at Badgery’s Creek in Sydney.

The third task Kilgariff highlighted is to reduce red tape and regulatory overlap, which he says adds to compliance costs, restricts freight efficiency and impedes industry’s efforts to invest to improve productivity.

“At the top of the list is the proposed review of the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal, which is needed to ensure there is no regulatory duplication with other pieces of legislation, such as the Heavy Vehicle National Law and OHS legislation,” Kilgariff said.

He also called for a review of the shipping laws brought in by the Labor government to test whether they impede the efficient operation of coastal trade.

“Fourth is delivering on a number of key infrastructure projects designed to improve freight movements in and out of our ports, including important rail projects that will link Port Botany in Sydney to the wider rail network,” Kilgariff said.

“Finally, ALC calls on the new government to continue the push towards a road-pricing scheme that collects the efficient cost of providing, maintaining and operating roads used by heavy vehicles so as to create an incentive to invest in roads.

“ALC hopes the new government will use the results of the work being undertaken as part of the Heavy Vehicle Charging and Investment Reform project to develop a price so the right truck is on the right road, while not distorting the choice of customers as to the mode of transport used to carry goods.”