JULY 2006

Chairman’s Update

ALC has recently published a national Infrastructure Action Agenda that details priorities for investment and reform from a whole of logistics perspective.  These priorities have been developed and agreed by ALC members across all transport modes and from all stages of the logistics supply chains.  They address our number one priority – Infrastructure. 

Linked to this we have also published three supply chain case studies that look at opportunities to improve efficiency in coal, grain and intermodal logistics.  These are a direct response to the call by COAG in February 2006 for industry to map major supply chains and to make specific recommendations on actions needed to improve efficiency.  They also build on the Intermodal Terminal Study recently completed for your department by Steve Meyrick.

ALC is committed to working with all Australian Governments to progress these priorities.  Specifically we 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
  

I look forward to working with all of you to now “making it happen”.

Ivan Backman