Footnotes

Preface

[1]        Australian Logistics Council, Annual Report 2006, p. 5.

Chapter 1 - Introduction and background to the inquiry

[1]        Senate Employment, Workplace Relations and Education Committee, Perspectives on the future of the harvest labour force, October 2006.

[2]        Department of Transport and Regional Services, Australian Transport Statistics, August 2006, p. 7.

[3]        National Transport Commission Australia, "Twice the Task" A review of Australia's freight transport task, February 2006.

[4]        National Transport Commission Australia, "Twice the Task" A review of Australia's freight transport task, February 2006, p. 2.

[5]        National Transport Commission Australia, "Twice the Task" A review of Australia's freight transport task, February 2006, p. 2.

[6]        Mr Fred Heldberg, Committee Hansard , 2 May 2007, p. 11.

[7]        Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Submission 16, pp 10-11

[8]        Mr Ron Finemore, Committee Hansard, 12 March 2007, p. 2.

[9]        Mr Hal Morris, Committee Hansard, 12 April 2007, p. 8.

[10]      Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Submission 16, p. 9.

[11]      Australasian Railway Association, Submission 18, p. 1.

[12]      Australian Shipowners Association, Submission 29, p. 7.

[13]      Maritime Union of Australia, Submission 13, p. 4.

[14]      Ibid., p. 5.

[15]      Qantas Airways Limited, Submission 26, p. 3.

[16]      Ibid., p. 3.

[17]      Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Submission 16, p. 10. It is also noted that in line with falling fuel costs towards the end of 2006, Qantas moved to reduce the surcharge on international flights. However, in general terms the costs of fuel continue to be a factor driving competition in the industry.

[18]      Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Submission 16, p. 10.

[19]      Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Submission 16, p. 3.

[20]      Ibid, pp 3-5.

[21]      Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Submission 16, p. 6.

[22]      Mr Hal Morris, Committee Hansard, 12 April 2007, p. 1.

[23]      Mr Ian King, Committee Hansard, 2 May 2007, p.11.      

[24]      Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Submission 16, p. 11.

[25]      The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, Submission 3, p. 2.

[26]      Dr Daryll Hull, Submission 15,  p. 3.

[27]      Mr Fred Heldberg, Committee Hansard, 2 May 2007, p. 15.

Chapter 2 - Attracting workers to the transport industry

[1]        Mr Greg Cream, Committee Hansard , 2 May 2007, p.22

[2]        Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Submission 16, p. 18. The Department noted that approximately three quarters of persons employed in the transport industry, including drivers, are in less-skilled occupations.

[3]        Australian Trucking Association, Submission 20, p. 3.

[4]        Transport Forum WA, Submission 25, p. 9.

[5]        Australian Rail, Tram and Bus Industry Union, Submission 27, pp 22-23.

[6]        Maritime Union of Australia, Submission 13, p.17.

[7]        Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Submission 16, pp 20-22.

[8]        Transport and Logistics Industry Skills Council, Submission 19, p. 3.

[9]        Maritime Union of Australia, Submission 13, p. 7. The South Australian Government also highlighted the likelihood of shortages in marine pilots. Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure, Submission 28, p. 2.

[10]      Qantas Airways Limited, Submission 26, pp 7-8.

[11]      Transport and Logistics Industry Skills Council, Submission 19, p. 2.

[12]      National Centre for Vocational Education Research, Submission 10, p. 20.

[13]      Ibid.

[14]      Sea Freight Council of Queensland Limited, Submission 11, p. 4.

[15]      Mr Cliff Gillam, Committee Hansard, 2 May 2007, p. 33.

[16]      Mr Jonathan Northorpe, Committee Hansard, 16 April 2007, p. 3.

[17]      Aviation Australia, Submission 2, p. 4.

[18]      Transport Workers Union, Workforce Challenges in Road Transport, January 2007, p. 15.

[19]      Australasian Railway Association, The Changing Face of Rail: A journey to the employer of choice, p. 11.

[20]      Aviation Australia, Submission 2; and Qantas Airways Limited, Submission 26.

[21]      For example, the committee heard that in Western Australia, attracting young people to offset workforce ageing a major priority for the Public Transport Authority, where surveys of retirement intentions indicate 50 per cent of core personnel will be lost in the next 10 years. Mr Cliff Gillam, Committee Hansard, 2 May 2007, p. 30.

[22]      Mr Ian McMillan, Committee Hansard, 16 April 2007, p. 31.

[23]      Ms Sandra Pattison, Committee Hansard, 3 May 2007, p. 2.

[24]      Mr Hal Morris, Committee Hansard, 12 April 2007, p. 2. See also Mr Greg Cream, Committee Hansard, 2 May 2007, p. 14.

[25]      Mr Bill Noonan, Committee Hansard, 16 April 2007, p. 27.

[26]      For example, the committee heard anecdotal evidence that careers counsellors are not always adequately or appropriately resourced to provide the best service to students. In one instance, the committee was told of a VCE maths teacher who was also the designated school careers counsellor, albeit for one hour a week only. It was suggested that the capacity of this teacher to pass on information about any industry, including the transport industry, was very limited, simply because of the lack of time. Committee Hansard, 16 April 20 07, p. 25. Similarly, see Mr Trevor Jorgensen, Committee Hansard, 12 April 2007, p. 18.

[27]      For example, Ms Sandra Pattison, Committee Hansard, 3 May 2007, p. 13.

[28]      Mr Fred Heldberg, Committee Hansard, 2 May 2007, pp 18-19.

[29]      Mr Neil Chambers, Committee Hansard, 16 April 2007, p. 24.

[30]      Mr Fred Heldberg, Committee Hansard, 2 May 2007, p. 27.         

[31]      National Centre for Vocational Education Research, Submission 10, p. 2.

[32]      Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Submission 16, pp 15-16.

[33]      Ms Louise Perram-Fisk, Committee Hansard, 12 April 2007, p. 39.

[34]      Mr Lyle White, Committee Hansard, 12 March 2007, p. 16.

[35]      Mr Fred Heldberg, Committee Hansard, 2 May 2007, p. 28.

[36]      Mr Lachlan McKinna, Committee Hansard, 3 May 2007, p. 26.

[37]      Mr Ron Finemore, Committee Hansard, 12 March 2007, p. 7.

[38]      Mr Lyle While, Committee Hansard, 12 March 2007, p. 16.

[39]      Mr Lachlan McKinna, Committee Hansard, 3 May 2007, p. 26.

[40]      For example, Mr Fred Heldberg, Committee Hansard, 2 May 2007, p. 17.

[41]      Mr Tony Squires, Committee Hansard, 12 April 2007, p. 19.

[42]      For example, the Linfox 'integrated logistics' logo on the side of its trucks is an effective branding combination.

[43]      Mr Jack Noye, Committee Hansard, 12 April 2007, p. 33.

[44]      Mr Hal Morris, Committee Hansard, 12 April 2007, p. 2.

[45]      Queensland Rail, Submission 36, p. 2.

[46]      Mr Bill Noonan, Committee Hansard, 16 April 2007, pp 34-35.

[47]      Mr Andrew Thomas, Committee Hansard, 12 March 2007, p. 21.

[48]      For example, the committee heard that small businesses such as owner-driver trucking concerns have an important role in the industry, with some estimating that they comprise as much as 25 to 30 per cent of the transport trucking business. Mr Ian McMillan, Committee Hansard, 16 April 2007, p. 32. 

[49]      Transport Forum WA, Submission 25, p. 15.

[50]      Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Submission 16, p. 26.

[51]      Mr Ron Finemore, Committee Hansard, 12 March 2007, p. 2.

[52]      For example, see Mr Greg Cream, Committee Hansard, 2 May 2007, p. 19. See also TTF Australia, Submission 24, p. 6. See also TTF Australia, Submission 24, p. 6.

[53]      Transport Forum WA, Submission 25, pp 22-23.

[54]      Mr Neil Chamber, Committee Hansard, 16 April 2007, p. 29.

[55]      Maritime Union of Australia, Submission 13, pp 9-10.

[56]      Ms Lyn Rowland, Committee Hansard, 12 April 2007, p. 53.

[57]      Mr Lachlan McKinna, Committee Hansard, 3 May 2007, p. 22.

[58]      Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Submission 16, p. 24.

[59]      Mr Bill Noonan, Committee Hansard, 16 April 2007, p. 30.

[60]      Transport Forum WA, Submission 25, p. 15.

[61]      Ibid,, p. 20.

[62]      Queensland Government, Submission 12, pp 1-2.

[63]      Queensland Rail, Submission 36, pp. 4-5.

[64]      Victorian Transport and Logistics Industry Government Partnership, Submission 22, pp. 4-6.

Chapter 3 - Training

[1]        New South Wales Government, Submission 31, p. 6.

[2]        New South Wales Government, Submission 31, p. 8. The submissions further noted that of those 8,000, approximately half are international students unlikely to remain in Australia following completion of their course. On the other hand, it is also hard to assess what proportion of students in general courses such as arts and business will go on to careers in the transport and logistics industry.

[3]        Mr Ron Horne, Committee Hansard, 3 May 2007, p. 31.

[4]        Mr Andrew Thomas, Committee Hansard, 12 March 2007, p. 23.

[5]        National Centre for Vocational Education Research, Submission 10, p. 1.

[6]        Ms Sandra Pattison, Committee Hansard, 3 May 2007, p. 4.

[7]        A wide range of occupations are included in this category, such as air and sea transport professionals, transport company managers, forklift drivers, road and rail transport drivers, store persons, seafarers and fishing hands, and freight and furniture handlers. For further details see National Centre for Vocational Education Research, Submission 10. 

[8]        National Centre for Vocational Education and Training, Submission 10, p. 2.

[9]        Ibid, p. 8.

[10]      Ms Sandra Pattison, Committee Hansard, 3 May 2007, p. 10.

[11]      It should be noted that the expressed reason for the decline in apprentice numbers was not a lack of interest on the part of applicants, but rather increased efficiencies and technological advances have decreased the size of the Queensland Rail workforce overall, and consequently there are fewer supervisors available to guide apprentices. It may also be that there is less appropriate work available for apprentices to do; for example, see Mr Ron Finemore, Committee Hansard, 12 March 2007, p. 3.

[12]      For further information, see the Australian Apprenticeships website, http://www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/student/school-based.asp, 8 May 2007.

[13]      Mr Hugh McMaster, Committee Hansard, 12 March 2007, p. 12.

[14]      Mr Lyle White, Committee Hansard, 12 March 2007, p. 13.

[15]      Mr Geoffrey Favell, Committee Hansard, 12 April 2007, p. 33.

[16]      Mr Raymond U'Chong, Committee Hansard, 2 May 2007, p. 14. See also Mr Hal Morris, Committee Hansard, 12 April 2007, p. 3.

[17]      National Centre for Vocational Education Research, Submission 10, p. 3.

[18]      National Centre for Vocational Education Research, Submission 10, p. 3.

[19]      Ibid, p. 15.

[20]      Ms Sandra Pattison, Committee Hansard, 3 May 2007, p. 3.

[21]      National Centre for Vocational Education Research, Submission 10, p. 18.

[22]      It was also noted, however, that for more general training aside from apprenticeships, Queensland Rail uses a range of providers including private providers.

[23]      Ms Lyn Rowland, Committee Hansard, 12 April 2007, p. 50.

[24]      Mr Ron Horne, Committee Hansard, 3 May 2007, p. 29.

[25]      Mr Anthony Grant, Committee Hansard, 3 May 2007, p. 27.

[26]      Mr Ron Finemore, Committee Hansard, 12 March 2007, p. 6.

[27]      New South Wales Government, Submission 31, p. 7.

[28]      Mr Ian McMillan, Committee Hansard, 16 April 2007, p. 23.

[29]      New South Wales Government, Submission 31, p. 6.

[30]      Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Submission 16, pp 34-35.

[31]      Australian Shipowners Association, Submission 29, p.10.

[32]      New South Wales Government, Submission 31, p. 7.

[33]      DECA Training Overview, provided to the committee during a site visit to the organisation's Altona North facility, 17 April 2007.

[34]      Qantas Airways Limited, Submission 26, p. 7.

[35]      Mr Jonathan Northorpe, Committee Hansard, 16 April 2007, p. 4. 

[36]      Australian Shipowners Association, Submission 29, p. 7.

[37]      For example, Dr Daryll Hull noted that traditionally, the freight sector of the transport and logistics industry has worked on margins of around 2 per cent. Submission 15, p. 4.

[38]      Victorian Transport and Logistics Industry-Government Partnership, Submission 22, p. 9 attachment B.

[39]      Transport Forum WA, Submission 25, p. 6.

[40]      Mr Jonathan Northorpe, Committee Hansard, 16 April 2007, p. 5.

[41]      Transport Forum WA, Submission 25, p. 15.

[42]      See, for example, Mr Anthony Grant, Committee Hansard, 3 May 2007, p. 18.

[43]      Mr Andrew Thomas, Committee Hansard, 12 March 2007, p. 22.

[44]      Mr Andrew Thomas, Committee Hansard, 12 March 2007, p. 20.

[45]      Australian Rail, Tram and Bus Industry Union, Submission 27, p. 23.

[46]      Tasmanian Freight Logistics Council, Submission 7, p. 3. The potential implications for public safety resulting from low quality training of workers in the transport industry were also raised. See, for example, Mr Graham Bailey, Submission 1.

[47]      Mr Jonathan Northorpe, Committee Hansard, 16 April 2007, p. 4. 

[48]      For example, Mr Fred Heldberg told the committee that the previous training guarantee levy acted as an effective incentive to train, noting that 'The industry per se has not been doing any training since the federal government withdrew the training guarantee levy.' Committee Hansard, 2 May 2007, p. 16.

[49]      Mr John Taya, Committee Hansard, 2 May 2007, p. 6.

[50]      Mr Ian McMillan, Committee Hansard, 16 April 2007, p. 39.

[51]      Mr Lachlan McKinna, Committee Hansard, 3 May 2007, p. 24.

[52]      Mr Timothy Squires, Committee Hansard, 12 April 2007, p. 29. 

[53]      Mr Jonathan Northorpe, Committee Hansard, 16 April 2007, p. 12.

[54]      This was noted, for example, by Mr Ian McMillan, Committee Hansard, 16 April 2007, p. 39.

[55]      Mr Ron Horne, Committee Hansard, 3 May 2007, p. 36.

[56]      Transport Forum WA, Submission 25, p. 19.

[57]      Aviation Australia, Submission 2, p. 5.

[58]      The Bus Industry Confederation, Submission 32, p. 14.

[59]      Mr Andrew Thomas, Committee Hansard, 12 March 2007, pp 19-20.

[60]      Mr Lyle White, Committee Hansard, 12 March 2007, p. 21.

[61]      Mr Andrew Thomas, Committee Hansard, 12 March 2007, p. 22.

[62]      Mr Anthony Grant, Committee Hansard, 3 May 2007, p. 16.

[63]      For example, Professor Nagel described awareness in some universities of the benefits of smooth articulation between vocational education and tertiary qualifications. Committee Hansard, 16 April 2007, p. 41.  

[64]      Mr Ian McMillan, Committee Hansard, 16 April 2007, pp 40-41.

[65]      Mr Lyle White, Committee Hansard, 12 March 2007, p. 12.

[66]      Mr Hal Morris, Committee Hansard, 21 March 2007, pp 9-10.

[67]      Further information is available from the Transport and Logistics Industry Skills Council at http://www.tlisc.com.au/index.php?menuID=209.

Chapter 4 - Challenges for employers

[1]        Mr Fred Heldberg, Committee Hansard, 2 May 2007, p. 17.

[2]        Mr Greg Cream, Committee Hansard, 2 May 2007, p. 23.

[3]        Ibid, 2007 p. 25.

[4]        Ibid, 2007, p. 13.

[5]        Mr Ian King, Committee Hansard, 2 May 2007, p. 19.

[6]        For example, Veolia Transport Australian told the committee that in the bus industry, there are frequent instances of companies 'stealing' staff from other companies, in an employment environment described as 'closed shop'. Mr Barry James, Committee Hansard, 16 April 2007, p. 62.

[7]        Mr Fred Heldberg, Committee Hansard, 2 May 2007, p. 17.

[8]        Mr Greg Cream, Committee Hansard, 2 May 2007, p. 23.

[9]        Mr Evan Knapp, Committee Hansard, 3 May 2007, p. 21.

[10]      Although there is always some level of attrition in these circumstances, with a proportion of workers moving overseas and not returning, Main Roads Western Australia explained that in their experience, over 50 per cent of young people did return. Mr John Taya, Committee Hansard, 2 May 2007, p. 8. 

[11]      Mr Paul Cousins, Committee Hansard, 16 April 2007, pp 66-67.

[12]      Qantas Airways Limited, Submission 26, p. 5.

[13]      Aviation Australia, Submission 2, p. 4.

[14]      Aviation Australia, Submission 2, p. 4.

[15]      Mr Evan Westgarth, Committee Hansard, 16 April 2007, p. 78. The Maritime Union of Australia also commented on the movement of workers from the bluewater sector to other industry areas, including the offshore sector. Submission 12, p. 7.

[16]      Transport Forum WA, Submission 25, p. 14.

[17]      Mr Cliff Gillam, Committee Hansard, 2 May 2007, p. 32.

[18]      Sea Freight Council of Queensland, Submission 11, p. 4.

[19]      Mr Alan Mitchell, Committee Hansard, 16 April 2007, p. 52.

[20]      The Bus and Coach Association of New South Wales, Submission 21, p. 2.

[21]      South Australian Freight Council, Submission 5, p. 12.

[22]      Ron Finemore Transport, Submission 4, p. 2.

[23]      Ibid.

[24]      Tasmanian Freight Logistics Council, Submission 7, p. 3.

[25]      Ibid.

[26]      Transport Forum WA, Submission 25, p. 12.

[27]      National Transport Commission, Information Bulletin: Chain of Responsibility, February 2004.

[28]      National Transport Commission, Information Bulletin: Chain of Responsibility, February 2004.

[29]      Mr Neil Chambers, Committee Hansard, 16 April 2007, pp 36-37.

[30]      Mr Hal Morris, Committee Hansard, 12 April 2007, p. 5.

[31]      Mr Ron Finemore, Committee Hansard, 12 March 2007, pp 5-6.

[32]      This section states that: Where a resident; being a natural person, has been engaged in foreign service for a continuous period of not less than 91 days, any foreign earnings derived by that person from that foreign service is exempt from tax. Foreign service means service in a foreign country as the holder of an office or in the capacity of an employee. Australian Shipowners Association, Submission 29, p. 9.

[33]      Australian Maritime College, Submission 17, p. 5.

[34]      Australian Shipowners Association, Submission 29, pp 9-10.

[35]      In this context it is also interesting to note that the size of Australia's registered shipping fleet has declined in recent years, meaning that there are fewer Australian-flagged ships on which trainees may undertake sea experience, and on which qualified seafarers may work. Australian Shipowners Association, Submission 29, p. 8.

[36]      Maritime Union of Australia, Submission 13, pp 5-6.

Chapter 5 - Working conditions

[1]        Mr Tony Squire, Committee Hansard, 12 April 2007, p. 25.

[2]        Mr Stuart St Clair, Committee Hansard, 4 June 2007,  p. 38.

[3]        Mr Mark Walker, Committee Hansard, 2 May 2007,  p. 9.

[4]        Mr Ron Finemore, Committee Hansard, 12 March 2007, p. 4.

[5]        Mr Timothy Squires, Committee Hansard, 12 April 2007, pp 25-26.

[6]        The Hon Mark Vaile, MP, Minister for Transport and Regional Services, 'Vaile announces the B-triple road network', Press release 114MV, 9 July 2007. The committee also noted support for this concept from the Victorian Transport and Logistics Industry Government Partnership. Mr Neil Chamber, Committee Hansard, 16 April 2007, p. 29.

[7]        In considering this idea, the committee is also concerned about extra road wear caused by extended trailer combinations, as well as the fact that the license types necessary to drive large combinations are already in short supply. On balance, it does not seem that this is an effective long term solution to workforce challenges in the transport industry.

[8]        NRMA Press Release, NRMA plan for truck safety reforms, 3 July 2007.

[9]        Mr Neil Gow, Committee Hansard, 4 June 2007, p. 38.

[10]      Mr Stuart St Clair, Committee Hansard, 4 June 2007, p. 32.

[11]      Ms Lyn Rowland, Committee Hansard, 12 April 2007, p. 49.

[12]      Queensland Rail, Submission 36, appendix 2, p. 14.

[13]      Mr Neil Chambers, Committee Hansard, 16 April 2007, p. 34. 

[14]      Mr Rod Walters, Committee Hansard, 16 April 2007, p. 56.

[15]      Transport Workers' Union, Submission 30, p. 3.

[16]      Mr Paul Cousins, Committee Hansard, 16 April 2007, p. 69.

[17]      Mr Paul Cousins, Committee Hansard, 16 April 2007, p. 69.

[18]      Mr Kevin Brown, Committee Hansard, 4 June 2007, p. 25.

[19]      Mr Paul Cousins, Committee Hansard, 16 April 2007, p. 72.

[20]      Mr Evan Westgarth, Committee Hansard, 16 April 2007, p. 80.

[21]      Australian Maritime College Annual Graduation Ceremony Presentation 2005, cited in Transport and Logistics Industry Skills Council, Submission  19,  p. 8.

[22]      Mr Rod Pickette, Committee Hansard, 4 June 2007, p. 7.

[23]      Mr Rod Pickette, Committee Hansard, 4 June 2007, p. 7. It is noted the concerns about occupational health and safety were also raised in submissions from other sectors of the transport industry. See, for example, The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, Submission 3, p. 2, and the Transport and Logistics Industry Skills Council, Submission 19, p. 9.

[24]      Maritime Union of Australia, Submission 12, p. 26.

[25]      See, for example, Senate Employment, Workplace Relations and Education Committee, Workplace Relations (A Stronger Safety Net) Amendment Bill 2007, June 2007.

[26]      Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Submission 16, p. 31.

[27]      New South Wales Government, Submission 31, p. 22.

[28]      Australian Rail, Tram and Bus Industry Union, Submission 27, p. 32.

Chapter 6 - Policy and strategy

[1]        Australian Rail, Tram and Bus Industry Union, Submission 27, p. 6.

[2]        Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Submission 16, p.2.

[3]        National Centre for Vocational Education Research, Submission 10, p. 2.

[4]        Ms Sandra Pattison, Committee Hansard, 3 May 2007, p. 9.

[5]        Ibid., p. 10.

[6]        Mr Anthony Grant, Committee Hansard, 3 May 2007, p. 15.

[7]        Mr Hal Morris, Committee Hansard, 12 April 2007, p. 8.

[8]        Ms Perram-Fisk, Committee Hansard, 12 April 2007, p. 33.

[9]        Ms Sandra Pattison, Committee Hansard, 3 May 2007, p. 4, 7.

[10]      Ibid, p. 12.

[11]      Mr Michael Manthorpe, Committee Hansard, 4 June 2007, pp 61-62.

[12]      Australian Trucking Association, Submission 20, p. 2.

[13]      The committee noted submissions from the Australian Local Government Association that local councils are responsible for construction and proper maintenance of more than 640,000 kilometre or over 80 per cent of Australia's total road length. Australian Local Government Association, Submission 14, p. 1.  

[14]      Department of Transport and Regional Services, Annual Report 2005-06, Output 2.2.2: Local Government, www.dotars.gov.au. 

[15]      Department of Transport and Regional Services, Annual Report 2005-06, Output 1.3.1: AusLink, www.dotars.gov.au.

[16]      Sea Freight Council of Queensland, Submission 11, p. 6.

[17]      Tasmanian Freight Logistics Council, Submission 7, p. 4.

[18]      Mr Mark Walker, Committee Hansard, 2 May 2007, p. 7.

[19]      Mr Hal Morris, Committee Hansard, 12 April 2007, p. 10.

[20]      Tasmanian Freight Logistics Council, Submission 7, p. 3.

[21]      Australasian Railway Association Inc, the Future for Freight: Economic Analysis of the Cost of Moving Freight on the Inter Capital City Corridors, 2005, pp 47-50. The report did, however, also note that rail traditionally has had less flexible services and underperformance, especially on the New South Wales elements of the North South corridor

[22]      Ernst & Young, North-South Rail Corridor Study Executive Report: Commissioned by the Department of Transport and Regional Services, 30 June 2006, p. 41. Again, this report noted that rail also has poor comparative reliability, availability and transit times, compared with road transport.

[23]      See, for example, Mr Tony Squires, Committee Hansard, 12 April 2007, p. 24; and the New South Wales Road Transport Association Inc, Submission 8, p. 2.       

[24]      Department of Transport and Regional Services, AusLink White Paper, 2004, p. 2, 32.

[25]      Productivity Commission, Road and Rail Freight Infrastructure Pricing: Report no. 41, 2006, p. 27, 35.

[26]      For example, just as it was noted above that there could be value in major supermarket chains reviewing the location of their warehouses to bring them closer to key trucking routes, so there may be value in considering co-location with key rail lines.

[27]      Mr Greg Cream, Committee Hansard, 2 May 2007, p. 18.

[28]      Transport Forum WA, Submission 25, p. 7. The committee did note comments from the Australasian Railway Association suggesting plans by the West Australian government for a railway line between Perth and Mandurah. Mr Garry Whiting, Committee Hansard, 4 June 2007, p. 46. In further consideration of infrastructure, the committee also noted that even in those states and territories which do have developed urban and rural rail networks, the capacity of the sector to manage a greater freight load can be limited by tunnel heights and differing gauge widths in some areas.

[29]      Mr Rod Pickette, Committee Hansard, 4 June 2007, p. 4.

[30]      The committee noted that this argument was also most in relation to rail transport, although with the caveat that shipping is still more environmentally friendly. See, for example, Mr Hal Morris, Committee Hansard, 12 April 2007, p. 10.

[31]      Maritime Union of Australia, Submission 13, p. 2. In this context, the committee noted that as the transport industry overall is one of the economy's most significant contributors of greenhouse gases and energy consumers, reduced pollution would have benefits related to emissions capture and off-set schemes, as well as health effects

[32]      Mr Rod Pickette, Committee Hansard, 4 June 2007, p. 5.

[33]      Main Roads WA, Submission 23, p. 2.

[34]      Mr Rod Pickette, Committee Hansard, 4 June 2007, p. 5. It was also noted, however, that there are other costs related to unloading vessels and transferring cargo to shore, which may offset these economies to some extent.

[35]      Mr Rod Pickette, Committee Hansard, 4 June 2007, p. 2.

[36]      Mr Ron Horne, Committee Hansard, 3 May 2007, p. 34.

[37]      Mr Michael Taylor, Submission 37, p. pp 1-2. Further information on the AusLink initiative is available from www.auslink.gov.au.

[38]      Commonwealth of Australia, Constitution Act 1900, s. 51.

[39]      Mr Michael Manthorpe, Committee Hansard, 4 June 2007, p. 59. 

[40]      Mr Michael Manthorpe, Committee Hansard, 4 June 2007, p. 58.

[41]      For example, the Australian Transport Council is a Ministerial forum for Commonwealth, State and Territory consultation, and provides advice to governments on coordination and integration of all transport and road policy issues at a national level. Further information is available from www.atcouncil.gov.au.

[42]      Further information on COAG is available from www.coag.gov.au. It should be noted that, as well as the Commonwealh Government and the states and territories, COAG includes representation of Australian local governments.

[43]      For example, see Australasian Railways Association, Submission 18, pp 2-3. Further information on the COAG National Reform Agenda is available from www.coag.gov.au.

[44]      COAG Communique, 13 April 2007, www.coag.gov.au.

[45]      Mr Garry Whiting, Committee Hansard, 4 June 2007, p. 42. 

[46]      Mr Anthony Grant, Committee Hansard, 3 May 2007, p. 17.

[47]      Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development, Victoria, Submission 22.

[48]      Queensland Government, Submission 12, p. 2.

[49]      Queensland Government, Submission 12, p. 2.

[50]      Information on the Australian Logistics Council is available at www.ozlogistics.org.

[51]      Department of Transport and Regional Services, Evaluation of the Australian Logistics Industry Strategy, February 2007. The evaluation found, among other things, that progress has been made in areas including implementation of the strategy by State-based freight councils, and integrated road and rail decision-making through AusLink. The evaluation also found further work is needed in areas including consolidating government commitment to the strategy, establishing a shared industry voice on the impact of regulatory decisions, improving infrastructure, improving data and the industry's evidence base, and improving the industry's complex and fragmented training system.

[52]      These are the Careers Working Group, the Safety Working Group, and the Education and Skills Steering Group. Australian Logistics Council Annual Report 2006, pp 12-13.

[53]      Further information about the first five-year strategy is available at www.ozlogistics.org, and from the Australian Logistics Council Annual Report 2006.

[54]      Mr Hal Morris, Committee Hansard, 12 April 2007, p. 11.

[55]      Mr Stuart St Clair, Committee Hansard, 4 June 2007, p. 38.

[56]      Mr Tony Squires, Committee Hansard, 12 April 2007, p. 21.

[57]      As, for example, in the drafting of the second Five Year Plan. This is not to dismiss the importance of this work, but rather to note that continuation and adaptation of existing approaches appears to take the place of more dynamic policy innovation.

[58]      Mr Ron Horne, Committee Hansard, 3 May 2007, p. 34.

[59]      Mr Hal Morris, Committee Hansard, 12 April 2007, p. 16.

[60]      The consequences of increased traffic congestion for driver fatigue and stress have been noted in Chapter 5 of this report.

[61]      Mr Ron Horne, Committee Hansard, 3 May 2007, p. 31.

[62]      Mr Trevor Jorgensen, Committee Hansard, 12 April 2007, p. 20.

[63]      Mr Mark Walker, Committee Hansard, 2 May 2007, p. 7. 

[64]      Mr Neil Chambers, Committee Hansard, 16 April 2006, p. 38.

[65]      Mr Hal Morris, Committee Hansard, 12 April 2007, p. 2.

[66]      Mr Rod Pickette, Committee Hansard, 4 June 2007, p. 13.

[67]      Mr Michael Taylor, Submission 37, p. 1.

[68]      Mr Garry Whiting, Committee Hansard, 4 June 2007, p. 54.