Whilst DP World is to be commended for resolving the cyber attack, the incident is yet another chapter in the litany of problems at Fremantle Ports.
Transport companies are bearing the financial and operational brunt of a series of issues at Fremantle Ports.
Issues from the cyber attack, on-going industrial action, process changes and more.
These issues, amongst others are reasons, are why Fremantle Ports is rated by the World Bank as one of the most inefficient in the world, coming in near the bottom at 310 out of 348 ports ranked.
A new container port at the proposed Westport facility is still at least 10 years away, assuming the business case is approved.
Even those plans may be delayed if the federal government proceeds with its reported cuts and delays to infrastructure projects across Australia.
Whilst transport companies are wearing the costs and losses, it is all Western Australian businesses and the community that ultimately pays.
Transport and logistics costs are an identified contributor to the inflationary pressures adding to a cost-of-living crisis for many West Australians.
Transport and logistics costs can be mitigated if waste and inefficiency in the system were removed. There’s no greater example of that than Fremantle Ports.
The government must step in to lead an urgent taskforce on transport and logistics productivity issues, starting with Fremantle Ports.
There are proposals and ideas out there amongst industry and others, but it needs leadership. Ideas such as that proposed by the transport industry to reduce traffic to the port by running more efficient combination low emission vehicles.
Easy wins that both improve landside efficiency whilst delivering a social benefit.
- Cam Dumesny is the CEO of Western Roads Federation.