Incredibly the size of the freight task in Australia is forecast to double between 2006 and 2020. Transport and logistics (T&L) affects every Australian every day. It is it a major Australian industry in its own right and is also an essential supporting industry to all other businesses and to the Australian way of life.

Australian domestic and international freight transport generates the equivalent of 14.5 per cent of Australia’s GDP, providing more than an estimated 1 million jobs in about 165,000 businesses, 135,000 of which have five or fewer employees.

The importance of the T&L industry to the Australian economy can not be understated. It also means that it is essential that T&L has its own strategy, a strategy that is developed based on the feedback and requirements of industry stakeholders.

The Australian Logistics Council (ALC) recently released the new “National Strategy for the T&L Freight Industry”. This is a strategy for our entire industry, providing a common focus, setting out priorities and actions for the next eight years that industry, in partnership with governments, must develop and implement to enhance Australia’s freight supply chain.

In particular, the strategy identifies that the T&L industry must be capable, sustainable and productive. In this way, the T&L industry will have the robustness to respond quickly and effectively to changing domestic and global customer requirements, while balancing its viability with sustainable economic, environmental and social performance.

This national strategy clearly sets out seven recommendations industry, in partnership with governments, must adopt to improve the effectiveness of Australia’s freight supply chain.

> Safety: implementing “T&L Vision Zero” nationally - no injury or death is acceptable in T&L.
> Investment: identifying the highest priority infrastructure investments, on a truly intermodal basis, to ensure the most efficient use of the supply chain.
> Regulatory reform: work towards minimising red tape and nationally consistent rules, regulations and industry codes.
> People: strategically identify and address shortages along the entire supply chain as well as working with other stakeholders to meet our skill requirements.
> Energy & environment: streamline supply chains and adopt appropriate best practice science and technology to reduce emissions.
> Innovation & technology: develop and promote innovation as well as encouraging the adoption of cutting edge technology.
> Leadership: identify and communicate with government and community on common nationally significant issues with a unified voice.

As well as the recommended reforms, the strategy also found it is vital for industry to make more efficient use of existing infrastructure and supply chain systems as part of our strategic blueprint. For example, co-operation to reduce unnecessary delays and recognising the availability of existing infrastructure, such as sea lanes, can bring enormous benefits.

It is important to recognise this new national strategy was developed by industry, not governments. The ALC has led the industry in its development and will work to lead the action agenda identified and ensure the ongoing implementation of the new strategy. It is vital that all stakeholders acknowledge and take responsibility for moving the issues identified forward. This includes action by industry, governments, associations, individuals and unions.

Extensive industry consultation was undertaken by the ALC between March and December 2007, including a nationwide series of workshops, to which the ALC invited over 1,200 of its members and others with a stake in T&L, as well as those of collaborating organisations like the state freight councils, transport modal peak bodies and industry associations, private companies, government agencies and unions.

The strategy incorporates far-reaching and challenging goals and not just the achievement of easily reached targets. The strategy also needed to acknowledge and develop goals for improving passenger and freight interfaces, while remaining a focused freight logistics and supply chain strategy. Nor could it be a federal government or an ALC strategy, but rather a strategy for the whole of the freight transport and logistics industry in Australia.

The strategy covers all modes of freight transport – air, sea, rail and road – as well as all intermodal stages of our logistics supply chain. It is vital industry acknowledges that in order for the freight supply chain to work at its highest efficiency, all modes must work together. For too long the T&L industry has taken a silo approach to addressing challenges. Australia deserves a freight supply chain that works together to ensure the best solutions are found to deliver our core business: effectively delivering goods and services, on time and in full.

Implementation of the recommendations outlined in the strategy is the responsibility of all members of the industry. Within the strategy, specific responsibilities are listed for some organisations against specific initiatives, but this does not preclude any other industry stakeholder from participating. For a strategy to be accepted it will need ownership, and this strategy enables all members of the industry to contribute in a meaningful way to the achievement of the national goals.

Copies of the “National Strategy for the T&L Freight Industry” can be requested by contacting the ALC on 1300 785 236 or by downloading the report from the ALC website: www.austlogistics.com.au.

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