Australia’s State and Territory leaders are urged to endorse new reforms today to streamline the nation’s transport and logistics networks and provide greater efficiencies for the food and grocery industry, the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) has said.

The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) will consider a range of recommendations on national transport regulation reforms, endorsed by the AFGC and Australia’s transport leaders, including the establishment of a single national heavy vehicle regulator.

The national heavy vehicle regulator would manage all transport and safety regulations which would be consistent throughout Australia and eliminate red-tape between states and territories.

AFGC Chief Executive Kate Carnell said having a more streamlined and cost-effective supply chain was essential for Australian manufactured products to maintain their competitiveness.

“Australia’s $100 billion food and grocery manufacturing sector calls on COAG leaders to sign off on this important step forward in having a truly national heavy vehicle regulator, which will help to boost productivity and reduce costs across the supply chain,” she said. “Having more efficient supply chain networks is fundamental for getting products from farm to factory to market, whether the market is in Australia or overseas.”

Ms Carnell said the move towards Australia-wide regulations was logical as Australia’s food and grocery sector operated in a national economy.

AFGC is aligned with joint-industry body Efficient Consumer Response Australasia (ECRA), whose aim is to create better outcomes, cost savings and greater efficiencies in the delivery of products to consumers in the food and grocery sector.

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