WA announces new taskforce to examine shipping industry

The Western Australian government has established a new taskforce that will examine the state’s shipping industry and vital supply chains.

The taskforce comes after the east-west rail link closed for 24 days due to severe flooding in the eastern coast, causing significant disruption to WA’s supply chain.

The disruption continues to impact WA supermarket shelves, raising the importance of exploring more options to strengthen and secure the state’s freight and supply chains.

Severe weather events in the north-west, which have caused significant disruption and costs to the community, have also prompted the government to launch the taskforce.

“We saw firsthand the disruption to our supply chains the once-in-a-200-year flooding in South Australia caused when it washed away parts of the Trans-Australia railway,” said Transport Minister Rita Saffioti.

“We see this as a national issue, and we are keen to work with any Federal Government willing to help us to better strengthen our east-west supply links,” she said.

The taskforce will be chaired by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Ports Jessica Stojkovski MLA, and the Hon. Kyle McGinn MLC, and will report back to Cabinet by March 31, 2023.

The announcement comes days after the Maritime Industry of Australia Limited called on the federal government to urgently guarantee the survival of an Australian flagged commercial shipping fleet.

Related: MIAL announces support to boost supply chain with shipping

Minister Saffioti said it’s important to examine other supply chain options in the event of future natural disasters and disruptions.

“Having better access to a local shipping fleet as one option to future-proof our freight supply chain,” she said.

Engagement will be undertaken with the shipping and transport industry, customers, port authorities, unions and the broader community.

The state government has also said that it is keen to train more Western Australians to play key roles in the shipping industry and perform vital functions in our ports.

With the main goal of improving shipping industry utility through implementable options, the taskforce will examine:

• The role intrastate and interstate shipping can play as an ancillary route for freight movements in the event of natural disasters and disruptions to other supply chains;
• Potential support for a national approach to the agile use of interstate shipping to strengthen critical supply chains;
• The sustainability and resilience of WA’s on-water maritime labour force, including any emerging skill gaps, training requirements or critical worker shortages;
• Opportunities to develop multi-modal responsiveness towards disruptions in vital WA freight supply chains; and
• Opportunities to improve supply chain co-ordination and service quality at WA ports.

Source: WA Government media statement