The purpose:
The Infrastructure Action Agenda is to assist the ALC in establishing itself as a respected adviser to Australian Governments and to others on infrastructure issues by providing a credible, coherent and broadly supported position on critical matters that affect the provision or use of transport infrastructure drawn together with substantial input from across the membership. 

ALC’s objectives in relation to infrastructure are to

• provide a vehicle for achieving national infrastructure improvements in areas that require the cooperation of industry and government;
• ensure that the voice of industry is sought and heard in the implementation of the recently announced COAG reforms and the direction of the AusLink process and
• give guidance to government on areas in which improvements in the provision or use of infrastructure, or the removal of obstacles to the efficient provision or use of infrastructure, will make a real difference to supply chain performance and enhancing economic growth .

Action areas:
The following four action areas that have a broad base of support from ALC members represent the critical issues currently requiring concerted and sustained effort by the ALC as a voice for industry.

1. Preparing the rail system for future challenges - Rail will need to play a greater role in handling the national freight transport task in the future, but current rail infrastructure, is not capable of providing an adequate level of service even for the existing task.  This is a reflection of past under-investment. Current deficiencies impact on the reliability and cost of supply chains.  Focussed investment on those elements of the rail network that are (and will increasingly be) critical to efficient and effective supply chain performance is a top priority for industry. 

2. Investing in access to ports, airports and intermodal terminals and the supply chain – Ports, airports and intermodal terminals play a pivotal role in the supply chains of Australia’s exports, imports and interstate cargo.  The effective and economical use of these facilities will require improvements in access links. 

In particular, government assistance may be necessary to ensure that these land transport access links and the supporting wider supply chains:

• are physically adequate to handle the road and rail vehicles that are necessary for efficient carriage of cargo to and from ports, airports and intermodal terminals;
• have sufficient capacity to ensure that the volume of cargo that can be handled through ports, airports and terminals is not constrained by the land access links;
• provide connections from ports, airports and terminals to the main transport arteries that are, as far as reasonably possible, free of delays due to local road congestion or interaction with other traffic streams and
• the complementary main transport arteries are efficient and do not constrain the movement of cargo to ports, airports and terminals and to Australian destinations.
• Government support is also required to ensure that sea transport infrastructure is adequate to meet the needs of a changing global shipping fleet (both bulk and container ships), which is leading to increasing size of ships. 

3. Developing clearly articulated freight transport plans - Industry planning for future supply chain development would be greatly assisted by the policy framework, clear communication and action by government regarding:

• the need for long term coordinated planning in relation to freight and passenger movement tasks;
• locations of the key freight routes and interchange points;
  infrastructure to be developed on these routes and at these interchange points;
• how the land occupied by and surrounding this infrastructure will be protected to ensure that freight operations can be conducted efficiently and
• national transport performance targets (for example the target composition of road/rail freight transport).

4. Ensuring consistency in regulation - Regulation has an important role to play in ensuring that transport needs are met in a way that is economically efficient and that is compatible with broader social and environmental goals.  However, the burden of regulation can be reduced and its effectiveness increased by:

• Improving economic  regulation through
  
  - a common approach to regulation between the various jurisdictions while moving to reduce unnecessary regulation;
  - regulatory processes which speedily resolve issues that may inhibit needed investment;
  - simpler, quicker and more predictable ways of determining the terms and conditions, including price, for third party access to essential infrastructure. and
• harmonising and simplifying technical, safety and environmental regulation.

ALC actions:
To support the Infrastructure Action Agenda the ALC will:

• acknowledge government policy initiatives and developments that serve to advance the four priorities;
• seek the support from organisations with similar interests, especially the members of the Australian Freight Councils Network;
• undertake further research and seek further input from membership to extend and deepen its detailed knowledge of matters relating to the four priority action areas with a view to communicating this widely;
• contribute to greater government understanding of the infrastructure needs on industry by:
  
  - initiating regular meetings with heads of government and transport agencies for updates, exchange of information, and presentation of views, on the four priority action areas;
  - gathering and providing data on the four priority action areas;
  - sharing with government insights into the current functioning of supply chains and the implications of future supply chain developments for infrastructure developments;
• maintain a consistent focus on the Agenda priorities in all dealings with government and
• work with government to implement appropriate demonstration projects.

Improving the economic and environmental performance of road transport

The largest share of freight within Australia is carried on the Road Network. The ALC recognises that marginal improvements in efficiency of this mode can have large aggregate effects for the economy and the environment.  To assist in the achievement of this objective ALC will:

• support the research, development and implementation of improved, environmentally friendly technologies and practices that complement existing infrastructure;
• encourage the implementation of access regimes to infrastructure which maximise efficient utilisation of existing assets;
• influence the adoption of Road Design Rules changes to ensure that new infrastructure criteria maximise opportunities for safe and efficient road transport operation and
• demonstrate a collaborative planning environment for all transport modes.

Related 2005 Position Statements: 7/05, 8/05, 9/05
Related ALIS Recommendations

Environmental Management Policy for the Australian Logistics Industry

Signatories and supporters of Environmental Management Policy

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