Catherine King’s reapppointment as the federal Transport and Infrastructure Minister in Anthony Albanese’s new cabinet provides some much-needed continuity for industry, said the Australian Logistics Council (ALC).
ALC CEO and Managing Director, Dr Hermione Parsons, said she looks forward to continuing a strong working relationship focused on lifting the productivity, resilience and sustainability of Australia’s supply chains in metropolitan and regional Australia.
The ALC said key supply chain and freight transport priorities for the new term include:
• Progressing the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy with clear accountability mechanisms, measurable actions, and sustained Commonwealth leadership.
• Securing industrial land and protecting freight corridors from urban encroachment through stronger integration with planning systems; and
• Addressing rail bottlenecks and intermodal access issues that undermine the efficiency of the national freight network.
“Freight infrastructure must be recognised as an enabler of national productivity. Minister King is well placed to lead the next phase of reform in collaboration with state and territory governments,” Dr Parsons said.
Dr Parsons emphasised the freight sector’s readiness to collaborate with the government on advancing decarbonisation, reducing regulatory burden, and addressing persistent workforce pressures.
“The freight transport task is growing, expectations on emissions and transparency are increasing, and our workforce is ageing,” Dr Parsons said. “Minister King’s leadership will be vital to ensuring the policy, regulatory and investment environment keeps pace.”
Priority transport actions include:
• Deployment of enabling infrastructure for zero-emission freight vehicles, including charging and refuelling sites along freight corridors;
• Regulatory harmonisation across jurisdictions to reduce compliance burden and support technology uptake—particularly in vehicle access, standards and licensing; and
• Building workforce capacity and capability, through coordinated skills pipelines, career awareness, and a renewed national approach to occupational licensing.
In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) earlier today, King said she was pleased to share that she will be reappointed Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Regional Development and Local Government in the new Albanese cabinet.
“Lots of good and important work to get on with as we continue to build Australia’s future,” she added.