Fortnightly ALC Government Relations Update No. 19 | 2 October to 15 October 2026

The 2026 ALC + Government Dialogue gave members an opportunity to put operational concerns directly to senior officials across transport, energy, regulation and Indigenous affairs.

Jim Betts’ opening address placed supply chain logistics and freight transport within national resilience and preparedness, while Matthew Brine’s fuel security address and Rachel Parry’s closing remarks connected the discussion with government’s policy responsibilities and priorities for 2027.

For ALC’s policy and advocacy work, the discussions highlighted several areas for follow-up:
• Fuel security: recognising distribution networks and reliable access at the point of use alongside imports and storage.

• Energy transition: addressing the cost of lower-carbon liquid fuels, infrastructure availability and investment conditions facing operators.

• Freight rail: linking emissions objectives with service reliability, competitive pricing and first- and last-mile connections.

• Industrial relations and automation: examining workplace arrangements, workforce consultation and skills development support technology adoption, safe operations and productivity.

• Policy implementation: testing proposed settings against fleet replacement cycles, infrastructure lead times and cumulative compliance costs.
• Remote communities: considering the consequences of supply interruptions where alternative routes and services are limited.

These issues will inform ALC’s policy development and departmental engagement. Member feedback will help identify specific proposals for further advocacy, including where government–industry cooperation would support investment and improve operational outcomes.

ALC thanks the department for its partnership, Jim Betts for his ongoing personal support, and all members, speakers and facilitators, for contributing their expertise to the discussions.

ALC met with ACCC Commissioner Martin Stokie to discuss freight productivity reform, heavy vehicle access, road funding and maintenance, road user charging and electric heavy vehicles. The discussion highlighted the gap between national reform settings and how access decisions work in practice, particularly where state and local 

Commissioner Stokie also pointed to road user charging and electric heavy vehicle curfew reform as areas likely to attract greater policy attention. A key theme was the need to focus on implementation, not simply policy agreement, including tracking progress against Productivity Commission recommendations and understanding why reforms stall at an operational level.

Commissioner Stokie agreed to attend and address the ALC Council meeting on 28 October in Sydney. 

NEMA provided its national preparedness briefing ahead of the 2026–27 higher risk weather season, bringing together government, industry and community stakeholders to improve readiness for severe weather and other nationally significant emergencies.

The Bureau of Meteorology advised that Australia is entering the season with a mix of risks, including unusually warm conditions, increased heatwave risk, elevated bushfire risk in parts of the country, tropical cyclone activity, severe storms and flooding. Conditions will vary significantly by region, with some areas remaining dry while others face wetter conditions and saturated catchments. NEMA stressed the importance of checking updated forecasts throughout the season rather than relying on broad national headlines.

NEMA also outlined the Australian Government’s crisis management arrangements and the importance of coordinated planning across governments, industry, not-for-profits and communities. National involvement becomes particularly important where events affect multiple jurisdictions or sectors, several crises occur at once, or demand begins to stretch available resources.

For ALC, the briefing reinforces the need to include supply chain logistics and freight transport in preparedness planning from the outset. Severe weather affects roads, freight rail, ports, fuel distribution, communications and access to regional and remote communities. Keeping freight moving during an emergency depends on government understanding those dependencies before a crisis occurs, and on industry being part of the planning, information-sharing and response arrangements.

Transport for NSW advised that the Bathurst 1000 bump-out was completed on 12 October, with drone and police monitoring continuing through 13 October. Variable message signs provided motorists with real-time information, and the team will continue to monitor broader network impacts in surrounding areas.

At Mitchell’s Causeway, piling work is underway along the original two lanes, while a retaining wall is being built to support construction of the third lane and provide space for piling machinery. Double shifts are being used where required to keep the project on schedule.

The original two lanes remain on track for completion in Q2 2027. The third lane is expected to be completed by Q4 2027, although this timing remains subject to conditions still being worked through.

One further project taskforce meeting is planned for November 2026, unless an earlier out-of-cycle update is required.