ARA GM Rail Freight and Heavy Haul Georgia Nicholls attended the annual Australian Logistics Council (ALC) National Summit on Wednesday 22 May. It was a great opportunity to observe how rail freight is positioned as part of national conversations on supply chains and logistics.  

Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King announced the release of the Review Report of the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy, as well as the commencement of consultation on the Transport and Infrastructure Net Zero Roadmap and Action Plan, which the ARA will actively participate in. Opposition Infrastructure Portfolio lead, Bridget McKenzie also reflected on the importance of Commonwealth investment in infrastructure to support our supply chains. 

Rail freight was well represented as part of the agenda with Simon Ormsby, Andrew Harding, James Baulderstone and major client TGE Chief Executive Christine Holgate. Many ARA members and partners attended, including NSW Ports, Port of Brisbane, Port of Melbourne, QLD Freight and Logistics Council and WA Freight and Logistics Council.  

Importantly, the environmental, emissions, social and safety advantages of rail freight are well understood across industry, and the recent investment in the Federal Budget 2023-2024 for network resilience was recognised. The call to action across industry was to focus on data sharing and collaboration in order to meet the challenges of the growing freight task, investor expectations and environmental targets over coming years – also a prominent theme at the recent ARA Rail Freight Conference. 

For more information contact ARA GM Rail Freight and Heavy Haul, Georgia Nicholls.