Fortnightly ALC Government Relations Update No. 12 | 26 June to 09 July 2026

ALC held a constructive meeting with Jim Betts, Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport, and the Arts, to strengthen the already strong working relationship between ALC and the Department. The discussion provided an opportunity to build on the Department’s ongoing engagement with industry and explore how ALC can continue to support more regular, practical, and early dialogue on freight transport and freight logistics policy. ALC welcomed the appointment of Rachel Parry and noted the opportunity to further strengthen engagement across key policy areas, including clearer points of contact, improved visibility of work underway, and continued collaboration on shared priorities.

Fuel security, freight rail and national resilience were key areas of discussion. ALC reinforced the importance of recognising fuel security as a whole-of-system issue, given Australia’s reliance on imported fuel and the dependence of defence, health, food, agriculture, emergency services and communities on functioning freight transport and freight logistics networks. ALC also highlighted the role of freight rail and intermodal capability as important national assets that can support resilience, diesel conservation and more efficient freight movement when better integrated into broader planning.

The meeting also covered TRACK, workforce, industrial land, planning, utilities and the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy. ALC welcomed the Department’s continued engagement on these issues and outlined where industry input can help support practical implementation, including early consultation on TRACK, clearer updates on the Strategy, and stronger national coordination on industrial land pressures. The discussion confirmed a shared commitment to focused, action-based engagement, including follow-up with Rachel Parry, continued dialogue on TRACK and strategy implementation, and planning for the October dialogue.

ALC met with Rachel Parry, Deputy Secretary at the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts, for an introductory discussion on ALC’s role, current priorities and the issues being raised by members across Australia’s freight transport and freight logistics industry.

The meeting provided a valuable opportunity to outline the industry’s central role as the core social and economic enabler for Australia, and to discuss the practical policy settings needed to support a more productive, resilient and efficient national freight system. Discussion covered ALC’s current work with members on freight rail, supply chain resilience, diesel and fuel security, intermodal connectivity, regulatory reform, and the importance of ensuring government policy reflects the operating realities of industry.

ALC also used the meeting to reinforce the importance of early and structured engagement between government and industry, particularly on matters affecting national supply chains, freight movement, investment confidence, and service reliability. The discussion was constructive and provided a strong foundation for continued engagement with the Department.

As part of this engagement, Deputy Secretary Parry will attend the ALC Council meeting on 11 August to address Council members. This will provide a further opportunity for direct discussion with senior industry leaders on the priorities, constraints and opportunities currently shaping the freight transport and freight logistics sector.

ALC members joined senior industry leaders, parliamentarians and advisers at Parliament House this week for the Parliamentary Friends of Road Transport, Warehousing and Logistics event, chaired by Senator Glenn Sterle with Scott Buchholz MP as Deputy Chair. The event drew strong attendance, with more than 25 MPs, senators and parliamentary advisers taking part, reflecting growing recognition across Parliament of the role freight transport and freight logistics play in Australia’s economy, communities, and national capability.

The ALC were honoured that Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles addressed the event and acknowledged the national importance of road transport, warehousing, and logistics.

The event provided a direct and practical forum for industry and parliamentarians to discuss the issues shaping supply chain performance, including productivity, infrastructure, workforce, fuel security, safety, regulation and rising operating costs. ALC thanked Senator Sterle and Scott Buchholz, MP, for their leadership of the Parliamentary Friends group and welcomed the strong cross-parliamentary engagement with members.

The discussion was timely given the sustained pressure on the sector from fuel volatility, workforce constraints, infrastructure bottlenecks, regulatory complexity and increasing costs. ALC will continue to use forums such as the Parliamentary Friends group to strengthen engagement with Parliament and support practical policy outcomes that improve the safety, productivity, and resilience of Australia’s supply chains.

The ALC was briefed through the National Coordination Mechanism following confirmed H5 bird flu detections in Western Australia and South Australia.

The briefing confirmed there is currently no evidence of infection in poultry, agricultural industries or mainland wildlife populations. Confirmed cases have involved migratory birds, with further suspect cases under investigation. More than 40 investigations have returned negative results, which remains an important part of the national surveillance picture.

Western Australia and South Australia have activated response arrangements, including emergency management teams, surveillance, public communications and engagement with wildlife carers, veterinarians, poultry industry representatives, tourism operators and local government. Emergency Animal Disease hotlines are receiving strong community reporting, which is helping authorities identify and triage potential cases.

Commonwealth coordination is underway across agriculture, environment, health, biosecurity and emergency management agencies. Daily interdepartmental meetings are being held, supported by regular engagement with state and territory chief veterinary officers, industry representatives and wildlife experts.

The briefing also considered potential impacts on food supply, chicken meat and egg industries, feed chains, biodiversity, trade and environmental management if H5 spreads further.

For ALC members, the main relevance is the potential flow-on impact to food distribution, cold chain logistics, regional supply, warehousing, workforce availability and national freight transport operations. At this stage, the focus remains on surveillance, rapid reporting, preparedness and coordinated communication across government and industry.