CEO UPDATE
I’m writing this from the UK, where I’m taking part in the Australian British Infrastructure Catalyst across Liverpool, Manchester and London. It’s been a useful opportunity to compare how Australia and the UK are dealing with many of the same issues around freight, infrastructure, resilience, and growth. That follows a busy few weeks at home, including MEGATRANS in Melbourne, where ALC participated in two panels and spent time with members and industry discussing distribution centres, freight productivity and how well our existing networks are actually working.
The common thread through all of this is that freight needs to be part of the conversation earlier. Whether we are talking about land use, infrastructure, fuel security, freight rail or regulation, decisions made well before freight reaches the policy agenda can have a major impact on how efficiently supply chains operate. That is also the focus we are taking into next week’s ALC + Government Dialogue in Canberra: practical conversations with government about what is working, where the pressure points are, and what needs to change before policy settings become harder to unwind.
80 confirmed to attend ALC + Government Dialogue 2026
We are delighted to have 80 people attending our 2026 ALC+ Government Dialogue next week in Canberra. This includes many government representatives from different levels and areas of government, and it forms an important part of the ALC’s government relations work. It gives industry an opportunity to engage directly with the senior departmental officials who help shape policy before it reaches its final form.
While Ministers ultimately make decisions, much of the detailed policy thinking, advice, design and implementation happens within departments. That makes these conversations particularly valuable. They give ALC members the opportunity to explain how policy works in practice, challenge assumptions and bring real supply chain logistics and freight transport experience into the discussion while ideas are still being developed.
Just as importantly, it builds awareness across all tiers of government and policy areas. Those relationships are fundamental for successful advocacy. Ministers make the final decisions, but departments develop policy, test options, provide advice and ultimately play a major role in whether an idea makes it to a final position.
This year’s Dialogue is deliberately built around conversations. Senior officials and industry leaders will work through some of the difficult issues facing the freight system, including resilience, freight rail, the energy transition, infrastructure and regulation. The aim is not simply to tell government what industry thinks. It is to build a better shared understanding of the problem, expose the practical consequences of different policy choices and help inform the thinking that ultimately becomes advice to government.
For ALC, good advocacy is not only about engaging once a decision reaches Parliament or a Minister’s desk. It is also about being in the room where the policy thinking takes shape.
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 | 18 SEPTEMBER TO 1 OCTOBER 2026
ALC participated in the Australian Government Department of Industry’s Supply Chain Roundtable, which examined fuel, fertiliser and other critical supply inputs.
Officials advised that Australia remains at Level 2 of the National Fuel Security Plan. Fuel imports are continuing, and shipments have been secured for the next six to eight weeks. ALC emphasised that current availability does not equal long-term fuel security, particularly while international supply routes remain exposed and diesel prices are around 47 per cent higher than at the same time last year.
Domestic urea prices have returned to around pre-conflict levels, with imports expected to meet seasonal demand. Plastics, lubricants, domestic gas and helium supplies were broadly stable. Sulphur and sulphuric acid remain areas to watch because of international supply constraints and their importance to fertiliser and metals processing.
ALC also reinforced the need for industry involvement in any higher-level fuel contingency planning, including how fuel would be prioritised across essential supply chain logistics and freight transport operations.
UPCOMING ENGAGEMENTS | 2 OCTOBER TO 15 OCTOBER 2026
For further details or to contribute to these discussions, please email Samantha.Leighton@austlogistics.com.au
SIGNIFICANT ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Government has reported 42 days of petrol, 32 days of diesel and 29 days of jet fuel available in Australia as international fuel market uncertainty continues.
45 fuel ships are currently on the way to Australia, with 3.5 billion litres contracted for delivery over the next four weeks, including 1.9 billion litres of diesel. Sixty fuel-carrying vessels had arrived in Australia during September as of 26 September.
Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen was in India for discussions on fuel supply, following engagement with Saudi Arabia. The Government has again ruled out another temporary reduction in fuel excise, saying its immediate focus remains securing supply and maintaining relationships with major international fuel suppliers.
Fuel prices continued to rise in the week ending 27 September despite some easing in international crude and petrol benchmarks.
The national average retail petrol price rose by 10.2 cents to 237.5 cents per litre, while the national average retail diesel price increased by 13.1 cents to 286.7 cents per litre.
Wholesale prices also continued to rise. The national average wholesale petrol price increased by 11.3 cents to 230.9 cents per litre, while wholesale diesel rose by 13.9 cents to 273.5 cents per litre.
Internationally, Brent crude fell by 4.7 cents to 107.6 cents per litre and Singapore MOGAS95 petrol fell by 1.6 cents to 128.9 cents per litre. The figures indicate that domestic wholesale and retail prices were still reflecting earlier increases in international markets.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has highlighted the importance of secure and open international shipping routes to Australia’s trade, fuel supply and broader economic security.
The Government remains concerned about disruption around the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea, noting the potential impact on fuel prices, inflation and the movement of Australian exports and imports. Australia has joined an international “No Fees/No Tolls” pledge opposing restrictions on lawful navigation and has called for safe and unimpeded vessel movements through the Strait of Hormuz.
The Government also pointed to measures taken to diversify fuel and fertiliser supplies across the Asia-Pacific and the $14.8 billion fuel security package, including the planned Australian Fuel Security Reserve. The Government is also examining domestic refining capability and a nationally coordinated approach to managing supply chain disruptions.
The Australian Government has extended the temporary reduction in the Minimum Stockholding Obligation for petrol and diesel until 31 January 2027. Fuel suppliers can continue to hold 20 per cent less petrol and diesel in reserve where they commit to bringing additional fuel into the domestic market and prioritising regional supply.
The extension is intended to provide flexibility through the grain harvest and summer travel period, when regional fuel demand is typically higher. Australia remains at Level 2 of the National Fuel Security Plan. The Government also pointed to almost 800 million litres of additional diesel and 150 million litres of additional jet fuel secured through the Fuel and Fertiliser Security Facility, alongside longer-term plans to increase diesel and jet fuel reserves to 50 days.
The Victorian Government has announced the successful recipients of the $8 million Freight Decarbonisation Co-Investment Program, supporting more than 30 small-to-medium freight businesses to invest in electric vehicles, charging infrastructure and other emissions-reduction equipment.
Foodbank will receive $205,000 to replace a diesel truck with a battery-electric truck at its Altona warehouse, supporting food collection and distribution across Victoria. Grants of up to $300,000 are available to eligible businesses, and the program is also intended to give government practical insight into the challenges operators face when adopting lower-emissions technology.
The program was open to businesses with up to 200 employees moving freight by road or rail and forms part of the Victorian Freight Plan 2025–2030, Victoria Delivers.
The NSW Government’s Investment Delivery Authority has endorsed five projects representing more than $1 billion in potential private investment in fuel security and resilience.
The projects include expanding conventional and renewable fuel storage and pipeline infrastructure at Port Botany, adding aviation fuel storage capable of supporting sustainable aviation fuels, building an ultra-fast electric truck charging depot at Wilton, a waste-oil re-refinery, and a biomethane production facility in the Wagga Wagga Special Activation Precinct.
The projects will receive non-financial government support to address delivery barriers, improve coordination across agencies, and accelerate project delivery.
The NSW Government has announced $16.5 million in additional funding for electric vehicle charging infrastructure and fleet electrification.
Of this, $5 million will support additional kerbside charging, while $11.5 million will help businesses, councils and non-government organisations electrify their fleets and install charging infrastructure.
The fleet program applies to organisations with 21 or more vehicles and includes passenger vehicles, vans, utes and small trucks up to 4.5 tonnes. More than 155,000 EVs are now registered in NSW.
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator has issued a replacement National Class 2 Performance Based Standards (Tier 1) Authorisation Notice, commencing on 24 September 2026 and running until 23 September 2031.
The notice authorises eligible PBS vehicles with Tier 1 bridge assessment approval to operate on specified networks in participating jurisdictions, subject to mass, dimension, route and monitoring requirements. It sets national mass and length limits by PBS network level, with jurisdiction-specific arrangements for the ACT, NSW, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria.
In Victoria, the notice applies to eligible prime mover and semi-trailer combinations, B-doubles, rigid trucks and specified rigid-truck-and-trailer combinations operating on PBS Level 1 and Level 2A networks. Gazette Heavy Vehicle National…
Nationals Leader Matt Canavan has reiterated the Coalition’s proposed Fuel Price Shield, which would automatically halve fuel excise when the two-week average Brent crude oil price exceeds US$100 a barrel.
Under the proposal, the heavy vehicle road user charge would also fall to zero while the measure is active. The Coalition estimates this would reduce fuel tax by around 27 cents per litre and provide direct relief to heavy vehicle operators during major international oil price shocks.
Senator Canavan also argued that Australia should increase domestic fuel production and refining capacity to reduce exposure to global supply disruptions. The proposal forms part of the Coalition’s broader fuel security policy and has not been adopted by government. Matt Canavan 27¢ off at the bow…
The Victorian Nationals have highlighted findings from the RACV’s 2026 My Country Road survey, which identified several Gippsland highways among the region’s most concerning roads.
The Strzelecki Highway between Leongatha and Mirboo North ranked first in Eastern Victoria, followed by the Princes Highway between Bairnsdale and Lakes Entrance and the South Gippsland Highway between Loch and Leongatha.
The survey identified potholes and poor road surfaces, narrow shoulders, limited overtaking opportunities, unsafe intersections, vegetation and inadequate signage and line-marking as key concerns. Across Victoria, 71 per cent of respondents nominated potholes and poor road surfaces as their main concern.
The Nationals have committed, if elected, to a $5 billion road repair and rebuilding program and to reinstating the Country Roads and Bridges Program.
GEOPOLITICAL & TRADE UPDATES
Middle East oil exports improved in September, but shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is still well below pre-conflict levels, and tanker freight costs remain elevated. Brent eased to around US$103 a barrel on 29 September but is still heading for a sizeable monthly increase.
A new concern is the United States considering restrictions on diesel exports to lower domestic prices. No ban has been implemented, but the proposal matters for Australia because reduced US exports would tighten an already stretched global diesel market. Australia does not rely heavily on US diesel directly but competes for supply in the same international market.
What this means for members: Fuel is still arriving, but diesel remains exposed to events Australia cannot control. Road freight, freight rail, agriculture, mining and regional supply chains should continue to expect price volatility and changing fuel surcharges.
Further reading:
ABC News – why a US diesel export restriction matters for Australia
DCCEEW – Minimum Stockholding Obligation and current fuel settings
DCCEEW – Australia’s fuel security
Conditions at major Chinese container ports remain difficult heading into Golden Week. For 23–29 September, average vessel waiting times were around 2.5 days at Ningbo and 3.7 days at Shanghai, with some Shanghai terminals reporting waits of four to seven days. High yard density and strong pre-holiday cargo volumes continue to affect terminal productivity.
This follows several weeks of weather-related disruption that has already affected direct Australia services. Maersk’s Qilin Shanghai–Australia service, for example, was pushed back by a week earlier this month because of Shanghai weather and operational delays.
China’s National Day Golden Week runs from 1–7 October, so reduced factory, trucking and terminal activity will now be followed by the usual post-holiday backlog.
What this means for members: The problem is less about whether cargo will move and more about when it will arrive. Australian ports, container transport operators and warehouses may continue to see vessel bunching and uneven volumes as delayed cargo works through the system.
Further reading:
Kuehne+Nagel – Port operational update, 23–29 September
Maersk – Qilin Australia service update
Australia–China agricultural trade has seen a significant development. A private Chinese crusher has purchased 68,000 tonnes of new-crop Australian canola for March shipment, following another private-sector cargo that arrived earlier this month. These are the first known purchases by private Chinese crushers since Australian canola trade was disrupted in 2020. Reuters
China began reopening the market through trial shipments and later broadened access to private crushers. Australian exports remain subject to phytosanitary requirements and an approved bulk-shipment trial, so trade is not yet fully open. Micor
Australian canola harvest begins in October. China is already Australia’s largest agricultural export market, while canola was worth about $4.9 billion in Australian exports in 2024–25.
What this means for members: If Chinese buying continues, it could add demand through the grain supply chain from farms and receiving sites through road and freight rail to bulk export terminals. It also reminds us how quickly geopolitical and trade decisions can redirect commodity flows.
Further reading:
Reuters – Chinese private crushers return to Australian canola
DAFF – current Australian canola export requirements for China
ALC IN THE NEWS
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
Essential Services Commission
Statement of Regulatory Approach – Port of Melbourne Pricing Order.
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA)
Air Services Australia
Proposed pricing model – Flight Information Management System (FIMS) in Australia
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: 18 September to 1 October 2026
UNLOCK THE POWER OF LEADERSHIP:
BECOME A CORE MEMBER
Core Members on the ALC Council provide crucial strategy, policy direction and thought leadership.
To join a unified voice and achieve transformative outcomes that benefit the overall industry and your business, contact our membership team.
