ottlenecks in infrastructure threaten to choke productivity in freight transport and through it Australia’s economy, according to the Australian Trucking Association (ATA).
“With freight logistics operations comprising almost nine per cent of Australia’s GDP, efficiency in freight transport is vital to the international competitiveness of Australian businesses in the global economy,” says ATA chief executive Stuart St Clair.
St Clair said the recent findings of the Australian Industry Group’s Linking Australia with Global Supply Chains report provided more evidence of the need for a harmonious state and federal government approach to infrastructure development. “The report highlights the negative impact on businesses that transport inefficiencies can have and demonstrates how crucial it is for all governments to work together in achieving the regulatory and infrastructure outcomes that all sectors; road, rail, air and sea, in freight transport need.” “Jurisdictions need to work together to maximise the productivity benefits of their spending and eliminate any overlap,” he says.
St Clair says spending has to be matched by a commitment to regulatory reform that helps grow productivity in freight transport rather than reforms for reforms sake.