Ports Australia considers that the third priority that the Government should focus on is reforms to coastal shipping policy including abolishing the current cabotage regime. Unlike the other two priority areas which necessitate partnership across all levels of government, coastal shipping can be unilaterally implemented by the Commonwealth Government and will result in significant benefits for the consumers, the economy and the environment. Additionally, Inland Rail requires billions to build to cater for the increased freight task between Melbourne and Brisbane. However, the infrastructure already exists at our ports and with the broader maritime sector to significantly ease the burden on our existing freight and supply chain networks. Coastal shipping reforms can be undertaken at negligible cost and deliver reduced end costs to consumers. It will reduce the inefficiencies of the current transport network by reducing the number of trucks on roads in our major cities, thereby reducing congestion and saving $1.5 billion. Improved coastal shipping policies will also:  lead to less Government spending on road infrastructure;  result in improved environmental outcomes due to less CO2 and noise emissions; and  result in cheaper products due to the economies of scale gained through mass volume shipping. Reforms in this space could also lead to jobs growth outside many of our major cities. Increased coastal shipping will lead to fewer trucks carrying freight long distances, but more short haul journeys in regional areas to/from the local port. As a result, regional jobs in the trucking and complementary sectors should receive a boost as will regional economies. Ports Australia is not suggesting that significant reforms to coastal shipping policies will be the panacea to resolving the current issues facing the freight and supply chain network. We are merely suggesting that this is a key option in a suite of measures that the Government should consider in helping solve the issues facing the network, and one that will deliver significant benefits for little cost. Ports Australia has outlined three priority areas that we consider will improve our freight and supply networks. Ports Australia is advocating a multi-modal solution to the challenges facing freight transportation, with a primary focus on increasing coastal shipping. Ports Australia has outlined below in further detail our focus on the three national freight and supply chain priorities.
Ports Australia considers that the third priority that the Government should focus on is reforms to coastal shipping policy including abolishing the current cabotage regime. Unlike the other two priority areas which necessitate partnership across all levels of government, coastal shipping can be unilaterally implemented by the Commonwealth Government and will result in significant benefits for the consumers, the economy and the environment. Additionally, Inland Rail requires billions to build to cater for the increased freight task between Melbourne and Brisbane. However, the infrastructure already exists at our ports and with the broader maritime sector to significantly ease the burden on our existing freight and supply chain networks. Coastal shipping reforms can be undertaken at negligible cost and deliver reduced end costs to consumers. It will reduce the inefficiencies of the current transport network by reducing the number of trucks on roads in our major cities, thereby reducing congestion and saving $1.5 billion. Improved coastal shipping policies will also:  lead to less Government spending on road infrastructure;  result in improved environmental outcomes due to less CO2 and noise emissions; and  result in cheaper products due to the economies of scale gained through mass volume shipping. Reforms in this space could also lead to jobs growth outside many of our major cities. Increased coastal shipping will lead to fewer trucks carrying freight long distances, but more short haul journeys in regional areas to/from the local port. As a result, regional jobs in the trucking and complementary sectors should receive a boost as will regional economies. Ports Australia is not suggesting that significant reforms to coastal shipping policies will be the panacea to resolving the current issues facing the freight and supply chain network. We are merely suggesting that this is a key option in a suite of measures that the Government should consider in helping solve the issues facing the network, and one that will deliver significant benefits for little cost. Ports Australia has outlined three priority areas that we consider will improve our freight and supply networks. Ports Australia is advocating a multi-modal solution to the challenges facing freight transportation, with a primary focus on increasing coastal shipping. Ports Australia has outlined below in further detail our focus on the three national freight and supply chain priorities.
Ports_Australia.docx