- TIMBERBIZ.COM.AU - A La Une - 30/Jul 00:31

Infrastructure delays, delay freight and cost money

The Federal Government’s failure to implement actions under the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy is undermining the push to improve national productivity, contributing to higher costs for businesses and consumer goods and weakening the economy. Source: Timberbiz Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Senator Bridget McKenzie said Australians have endured three wasted years in infrastructure under the Albanese Government which has cancelled, cut and delayed more than $30 billion worth of infrastructure projects. “It is now a year since the release of the five yearly review of the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy but Labor has failed to act on the findings,” Senator McKenzie said. “The Federal Treasurer talks a big game on productivity but its actions, not words, that are needed.” “At a time when Labor’s industrial relations and other policies are undermining national productivity and adding costs and red tape to businesses, boosting productivity means fixing the freight task so we can get products where they need to go quicker and more cost effectively.” “Fixing the freight task means the safe and efficient movement of fresh food to supermarket shelves, medicines to hospitals, fuel to service stations and manufactured products to our ports for export. Senator McKenzie said the Strategy was established through a partnership between the Commonwealth and all states and territories following deep consultation and engagement with all sectors of the freight and logistics supply chains, to support industry address the ever growing freight task. “Industries came together over 2023 and 2024 to inform the five yearly review of the strategy but after all their hard work, the Albanese Government has failed to act, leaving industry in the dark and missing its own deadlines to respond by December last year,” Senator McKenzie said. “This is another example of the Albanese Government being too distracted with the wrong priorities instead of focusing on the core tasks of government like strengthen the economy by cutting congestion and blockages in freight supply chains.” “It is humbling to be reappointed to the Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development portfolio to continue my work of the past three years, pushing for improved policies to build the infrastructure Australian communities need, deliver safe, efficient and productive transport networks, and strengthen our regions,” Senator McKenzie said. “The Albanese Government has irresponsibly held back on building infrastructure to cut congestion at a time when Labor has let more than a million extra people into the country while young Australian families cannot find a home they can afford to buy or rent. “Families and small businesses are paying more for worse service in the aviation sector under Labor, with the Government overseeing reduced competition, the collapse of two regional airlines, higher airfares, and one in three flights cancelled and delayed under their watch. Senator McKenzie said Labor has stripped job creating community infrastructure funding from our regional communities despite the fact our regions are set to bear the brunt of Labor’s failed energy policies with higher power costs, wind turbines off our coastlines, 28,000 kilometres of powerlines carving through farms and parks, and solar panels carpeting land better used to produce food. “The Nationals are fighters for the regions and in a strong Coalition with the Liberal Party we will continue to hold Anthony Albanese and the Labor Party to account for their failures,” Senator McKenzie said.