CEO UPDATE
Over the past fortnight, ALC has maintained a strong focus on the issues that matter most to our members and to the resilience of Australia’s supply chain logistics and freight transport industry. Fuel security remains a significant concern, with rising diesel prices and ongoing international supply pressures continuing to create uncertainty for operators. We have also welcomed greater government focus on infrastructure resilience, better use of existing networks, stronger intermodal connections and increased freight rail utilisation. These are areas ALC has consistently advocated for, and we will continue to press for practical measures that improve productivity, reliability and capacity across the national network.
A major focus for ALC has been our extensive advocacy ahead of the Victorian state election. We have developed and promoted six clear priorities for the next Victorian Government, supported by a fortnightly scorecard that tracks how the major parties are responding to the needs of supply chain logistics and freight transport. Our advocacy focuses on better-maintained, safer freight roads and infrastructure; greater use of freight rail; stronger connections to ports and logistics precincts; charging infrastructure for electric trucks; workforce capability; and protecting land needed for logistics. We are actively assessing new election commitments as they emerge, engaging with government, opposition and industry, and using media and member communications to keep these issues firmly on the political agenda. This work sits alongside our broader engagement with government, including at the National Emergency Management Agency’s National Preparedness Summit, where ALC reinforced that supply chains must be part of preparedness planning from the outset, not considered only after disruption occurs.
UPCOMING MINISTERIAL & GOVERNMENT MEETINGS
UPDATES ON PREVIOUS SIGNIFICANT MEETINGS
POLICY SUBMISSIONS
WORK IN PROGRESS
POLICY SUBMISSIONS
LODGED
ALC VICTORIAN ELECTION STRATEGY AND FORTNIGHTLY SCORECARD
HIGHLIGHTS OF ALC MEETINGS | 4 SEPTEMBER TO 17 SEPTEMBER 2026
ALC attended the National Emergency Management Agency’s National Preparedness Summit in Canberra, which brought together government, emergency management agencies and industry ahead of the 2026–27 higher risk weather season.
A key theme for ALC was the need to recognise supply chains as an essential part of emergency preparedness, not simply as a recovery issue once an event occurs. Disruptions to roads, freight rail, ports, fuel distribution, and logistics infrastructure can quickly affect access to food, fuel, medicines, and other essential goods, particularly in regional and remote communities.
The Summit also highlighted the close connection between fuel security and national resilience. A standout presentation from the National Indigenous Australians Agency showcased its fuel security dashboards, including data showing around 303 remote communities rely entirely on diesel.
For ALC, the discussions reinforced the importance of bringing supply chain logistics and freight transport operators into preparedness planning early, so government and industry understand critical dependencies, priority routes and operational constraints before an emergency occurs.
ALC CEO Dr Hermione Parsons attended the G21 Transport Forum at Wurriki Nyal in Geelong, bringing together transport leaders, industry experts and community stakeholders to discuss the region’s growing transport and infrastructure needs.
The forum highlighted increasing concern about congestion, travel times, access to jobs and whether infrastructure investment is keeping pace with population and economic growth. New G21 research of more than 500 residents showed strong support for major transport improvements, including duplication of the Midland Highway, delivery of the Bellarine Link and improved rail connections between Geelong, Avalon and Werribee.
G21 also reinforced the importance of stronger collaboration between state and local governments. Its broader transport priorities include improving regional road and rail connections and ensuring the network can better support the region’s growing freight and logistics task.
Transport for NSW expects asphalting works on the Great Western Highway causeway to begin towards the end of September, with particular attention being given to the Lithgow–Scenic Hill section following reports of significant road wear.
Major works will pause during the school holiday period and Bathurst weekend. Traffic management arrangements following the Bathurst weekend have been extended until 12 pm on 13 October, with around 60 personnel and NSW Police supporting traffic movements. Alternative routes are recommended between 8 and 13 October where practical.
Additional funding has also been provided for a third climbing lane at Victoria Pass. Construction of this lane is not expected to delay the first two lanes, which remain on track for completion in early 2027. Transport for NSW also advised that surrounding local roads are experiencing additional wear as some motorists divert around the works, and that it is providing funding to affected councils for repairs.
Transport for NSW reported increasing vessel exchanges at Port Botany, reflecting higher import volumes and larger vessel sizes. Current congestion has also been influenced by disruption associated with the recent typhoon in Singapore.
Empty container park capacity has increased to 95,000 TEU, while container movements are being drawn back to Asia ahead of the Black Friday and Christmas peak. Transport for NSW expects import volumes to increase as the peak season approaches.
Freight rail continues to play an important role in managing volumes. During last year’s peak period, around 500,000 TEU were handled via rail for export, representing more than 10 per cent of total volume and the strongest year recorded for rail utilisation.
The new OnePort vessel booking system is scheduled to go live on 21 October. Transport for NSW advised that the project team provide 24-hour monitoring during the initial implementation period.
Training materials are expected to be distributed through the Port Transport and Logistics Taskforce for circulation to industry organisations ahead of commencement. ALC will share relevant material with members when received.
UPCOMING ENGAGEMENTS | 18 SEPTEMBER TO 01 OCTOBER 2026
For further details or to contribute to these discussions, please email Samantha.Leighton@austlogistics.com.au
SIGNIFICANT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen has provided the latest national fuel update, reporting that 43 days of petrol, 33 days of diesel, and 33 days of jet fuel are currently available. Diesel stocks are down three days from the previous week, although the Minister said they remain above levels recorded when the international fuel crisis began.
36 fuel ships are currently en route to Australia, with 3.5 billion litres of fuel contracted for delivery over the next four weeks, up 300 million litres from the previous update. The Government continues to describe the national fuel position as strong while maintaining close coordination with industry amid ongoing international supply pressures.
The Minister indicated the Government is not currently proposing another reduction in fuel excise, describing the earlier cut as a temporary measure. He will travel to Saudi Arabia to meet with Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz Al Saud on regional supply conditions, including pipeline availability and the outlook for the coming weeks and months.
Australian fuel prices continued to rise in the week ending 13 September. The national average petrol price reached 211.1 cents per litre, up 5.6 cents in a week and 31.6 cents compared with a year ago.
Relevant to supply chain logistics and freight transport, the national average diesel price reached 257.7 cents per litre, up 4.8 cents over the week, 12.3 cents over the month, and 71.8 cents compared with a year ago. Wholesale diesel averaged 245.6 cents per litre, up 8.5 cents in a week. International diesel and crude oil benchmarks also increased over the reporting period.
Infrastructure and Transport Minister Catherine King has outlined the Government’s approach to the next phase of Australia’s infrastructure pipeline, with a stronger focus on network resilience, better use of existing infrastructure, project readiness and freight productivity. The Minister also reinforced the importance of a multimodal freight network, noting that road freight will remain essential for first and last-mile movements while greater use of rail and coastal shipping will be needed as the national freight task grows.
The Government has increased investment in the Australian Rail Track Corporation network to almost $2.8 billion, with further network upgrades underway, while the $52 million TRACK pilot to support more fuel-efficient freight movements by rail and coastal shipping is expected to open shortly. The speech also highlighted the importance of coordinated road, rail and landside connections around major freight precincts such as Westport.
These priorities closely reflect ALC’s ongoing advocacy for a more productive and resilient national supply chain logistics and freight transport network. ALC has consistently called for governments to make better use of existing infrastructure, increase freight rail utilisation, improve first- and last-mile connections, strengthen resilience across critical corridors, and ensure infrastructure investment reflects how freight moves through ports, terminals, logistics precincts, and regional networks.
The Minister’s comments provide a useful platform for ALC to continue pressing for practical measures that translate infrastructure investment into greater freight capacity, reliability and productivity, particularly through improved rail performance, stronger intermodal connections and targeted investment in the links that connect Australia’s major freight gateways.
The Queensland Government has released its Queensland Freight Delivery Plan 2026, setting out 70 actions over five years to improve freight productivity, reliability, safety, connectivity and resilience. Queensland’s freight task is projected to grow by 20 per cent by 2032.
Key measures include a new Rail Freight Container Incentive Scheme, discounted diesel fuel access charges on the Mount Isa Line, reforms to heavy vehicle access arrangements, improved first and last-mile connections, and investment across road, rail and marine infrastructure. The plan was developed with input from more than 500 industry and government stakeholders.
A re-elected Victorian Labor Government has committed $590 million for three road upgrades across Melbourne’s south-east: $350 million to duplicate Hallam Road, $180 million to widen Evans Road, and $60 million to replace the Governor Road–Boundary Road roundabout with traffic lights. Planning would begin early next year, with construction to start during the next term.
Labor has also committed to doubling annual pothole repairs from 250,000 to 500,000.
The Nationals have criticised the Australian Government’s proposed approach to a low-carbon liquid fuels demand mechanism, arguing it could increase the cost of petrol, diesel and aviation fuel for households and businesses, particularly in regional Australia. Senator Matt Canavan and Michelle Landry MP said any additional diesel cost would flow through construction, freight, food supply chains and other diesel-dependent industries.
The release points to concern Central Queensland contractors that many heavy vehicles and items of plant still lack a practical zero-emissions substitute, particularly in regional operating environments. It also highlights the potential exposure of businesses working under fixed-price contracts if fuel costs rise unexpectedly. These claims come from an Opposition media release and should be read in that context.
The debate is directly relevant to ALC’s current advocacy on fuel security and the transition to cleaner fuels. ALC supports the development of lower-carbon fuels, but has consistently argued that transition settings must reflect operational realities across the supply chain, logistics, and freight transport industries. This includes recognising continued reliance on diesel in heavy transport, avoiding unintended cost impacts on essential supply chains, and ensuring policy settings strengthen rather than weaken Australia’s fuel security and resilience.
The Department of Home Affairs has issued a new declaration under the Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Act 2003, confirming the Port of Esperance as a security-regulated port. The declaration revokes the previous 2025 notice and applies to areas of the port used to move, load, unload, maintain, or provision security-regulated ships.
GEOPOLITICAL & TRADE UPDATES
Fuel security remains the most immediate geopolitical issue for Australia’s supply chain logistics and freight transport industry. The Australian Government remains at Level 2 – “Keep Australia moving” under the National Fuel Security Plan as conflict in the Middle East continues to put pressure on global oil markets. On 12 September, Australia had around 32 days of diesel, 41 days of petrol and 30 days of jet fuel, with 41 fuel vessels on the water and 3.3 billion litres contracted for delivery over the following four weeks.
The cost impact is already showing up in freight. From 1 September, Maersk increased its Australian intermodal fuel fee to 23 per cent across Victoria, NSW, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia, citing higher global energy prices and Middle East supply risk.
What this means for members: Australia has fuel available, but diesel pricing and fuel surcharges remain volatile. Road transport, intermodal operations and businesses with high fuel exposure should expect energy costs to remain difficult to predict.
Further reading:
Australian Government – Australia’s fuel security
Latest Australian fuel stock data
Maersk – Australian intermodal fuel fee update
Weather and congestion at major Chinese ports have continued to affect schedules into Australia. During 2–8 September, average vessel waiting times were around 4.7 days in Shanghai and 3.6 days in Ningbo, with some Shanghai terminals experiencing waits of more than seven days following typhoon-related closures.
The impact is already visible on the China–Australia trade lane. On 11 September, Maersk advised that its Qilin service from Shanghai would be delayed by a week because of weather and operational disruption, pushing the affected vessel’s indicative Sydney arrival to 19 September.
What this means for members: The bigger risk is reliability rather than simply freight rates. Importers may need more lead time, while Australian ports, container transport operators and warehouses could see uneven cargo flows as delayed vessels arrive close together.
Further reading:
Kuehne+Nagel – Asia and global port operational update
Maersk – Qilin Australia service delay
Maersk – Australia service advisories
The US tariff environment remains important for Australian exporters and the supply chains that support them. Australian goods entering the United States are currently subject to a 12.5 per cent tariff under new US trade measures, subject to exemptions, while separate sectoral tariffs apply to products including steel, aluminium, copper products, vehicles and semiconductors. A 100 per cent US tariff on certain pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical ingredients is due to take effect on 29 September.
The wider issue is what happens to global trade flows as tariffs change where goods are manufactured, sourced and sold. Australian exporters may face higher costs in the US market, while goods displaced from other markets can move into Australia and the broader Asia-Pacific region.
What this means for members: Expect ongoing changes in sourcing, container volumes and trade routes. Exporters should also keep a closer watch on tariff classifications, rules of origin and where goods or components are manufactured before they enter the US.
Further reading: DFAT – Latest US tariffs and trade measures
ALC IN THE NEWS
ATN – ALC lists six supply chain priorities ahead of Victorian election
Daily Cargo News – ALC sets six supply chain priorities for Victorian election
DataLogi – ALC lists six supply chain priorities ahead of Victorian election
ATN – Logistics Council calls for supply chain election commitments
Mirage News – Building More Productive And Resilient Freight Industry
The National Tribune – Building More Productive And Resilient Freight Industry
Mirage News – Smarter Freight Access Critical To Keep Queensland Building
OPEN SUBMISSIONS
SUBMITTED
The Australian Joint Parliamentary Committee on Defence
Inquiry into Australia’s national civil preparedness and resilience
The Victorian Department of Transport and Planning
Heavy Vehicle Driver Safety Reform
Air Services Australia
Proposed pricing model – Flight Information Management System (FIMS) in Australia
The Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water
Australia’s Fuel Security and Resilience Package
The Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water
Securing Australia’s Cleaner Fuels Industry
The Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water
Safeguard Mechanism Review
For further details or to contribute to these discussions, please email: policy@austlogistics.com.au.
Issued by:
Samantha Leighton,
Head of Government and Industry Affairs
Period: 4 September to 17 September 2026
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