Cam Dumesny, CEO of the Western Roads Federation (WRF), welcomed the release of a “refreshed” National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy and new National Action Plan last week.

But cautioned federal officials that they must consult with state agencies and industry to ensure they don’t disrupt arrangements established over several years of freight disruptions.

Frustrated by the lack of progress on the issue at a federal level, Dumesny said state agencies and industry have already formed working arrangements in response to several years of rising road and rail freight disruptions, especially between WA, SA, and NT.

Led by WA’s Department of Fire and Emergency Services a multi-agency and industry response has become even more effective in helping mitigate the severity of supply impacts on WA’s communities and businesses, Dumesny said.

Just last month, the SA, NT and WA Governments also met in Adelaide to discuss and co-ordinate a cross jurisdictional response to the increasing road and rail freight disruptions.

After the WRF-organised Adelaide meeting, which was not attended by the federal government, attendees have reported developments in several areas, including policy engagement, access approvals, cross-border communication, and industry safety matters, Dumesny said.

The meeting also highlighted the need for more collaboration with the Australian Defence Force, as both Defence and civil sectors share logistical challenges in supporting Northern Australian bases and communities year-round.

WRF and its NT counterpart – the Northern Territory Road Transport Association (NTRTA) – are organising a roundtable of leaders from Civilian and Defence sectors on areas of potential collaboration.

Dumesny also noted that WRF and NTRTA organised briefings for industry ahead of the bushfire and wet season.

“Based on the forecast risk assessment, transport and logistics companies can then work with customers on appropriate supply plans,” Dumesny said.

“While WRF appreciates the federal government’s intent for a national freight resilience plan, they must understand existing arrangements before proceeding to formulate any national plan.”

In a media release announcing the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy and new National Action Plan, the federal government said it sets the agenda for a collaborative approach to deliver actions by governments and industry across freight modes.

It also outlines four priority areas: productivity, resilience, decarbonisation and data in order to support more efficient supply chains.

Accompanying the Strategy, the new National Action Plan outlines a set of actions that government and industry will work together to deliver over the five years.

Key actions include:

• Developing a National Freight Resilience Plan to ensure a consistent and coordinated response to significant supply chain disruptions.
• Developing a Freight Infrastructure Investment Framework to guide infrastructure investment decisions in freight networks across Australia.
• Conducting safety research on batteries and zero emission power technologies for freight vehicles and locomotives as well as promoting the uptake of safety and productivity boosting technology.
• Modelling the current and future freight and supply chain network, to consider what is needed to support its efficiency and effectiveness into the future.

“Without a viable and reliable freight networks, Australia stops,” said federal Transport Minister Catherine King.

“The journey of goods from farm-gate, factory or port to the shopping aisle or building largely goes unnoticed, except in those rare instances where something in the supply chain goes wrong.

“As industry and consumer demands grows, it’s vital our roads, rails and ports can accommodate increasing freight movements with resilience, efficiency and emissions-reduction front of mind.”

Australia’s freight task is projected to grow 26 per cent between 2020 and 2050.