The Australian Logistics Council (ALC) has thrown its weight behind a proposal to establish a roundtable involving industry and government to progress the issue of heavy vehicle road reform.
In a letter to Paul Fletcher, Minister for Major Projects, Territories and Local Government, ALC has welcomed a wide ranging public debate to ensure road funding reform proposals improve supply chain efficiency against the backdrop of an increasing freight task.
According to ALC Managing Director Michael Kilgariff, "ALC supports the need for reform in this area to improve supply chain efficiency and we welcome the Government's commitment to progress this important reform."
"ALC also welcomes Paul Fletcher highlighting this issue in a recent Ministerial Statement on road pricing where he reaffirmed the Government's commitment to accelerate work with states and territories on heavy vehicle road reform."
"Minister Fletcher correctly argued that our current system for funding roads is under growing pressure and that a new approach is required."
"ALC has also developed a set of principles to progress the debate [attached to the letter] which could be used as a basis for further discussions within the proposed roundtable."
In the letter, ALC reiterates its call for the inclusion of senior Treasury officials in the reform process and has encouraged the Government to include Treasury representatives in the roundtable.
"ALC would also like the roundtable to address the issue of mandatory telematics in heavy vehicles, as this technology will need to play an integral role in any road funding reform.
"As part of this campaign, earlier this month I wrote to all federal, state and territory transport ministers to encourage them to put in place the regulatory and administrative steps needed to advance the mandatory use of telematics in heavy vehicles to improve safety and compliance outcomes."