SEMINAR
West Gate Tunnel - Container Logistics Impacts 
Tuesday, 4th March 2025

CTAA, in collaboration with Freight & Trade Alliance, the Australian Peak Shippers Association, and other industry organisations, is hosting this FREE SEMINAR to begin to arm all container logistics chain stakeholders with more information to assess the impacts from their own perspective.

When:8am for 8.45am to 12.45pm (followed by a buffet lunch), Tuesday, 4th March 2025
Where: Ballroom, Yarraville Club, 135 Stephen Street, Yarraville (ample free carparking adjacent to the Club)
Cost: FREE!! (but registration is essential)

FTA / APSA - ADVOCACY

On Wednesday 12 February 2025, and after much public debate, the highly contentious Biosecurity Protection Levy (BPL) Bills were withdrawn from the Senate. In effect negating an additional $47.5m collection that was planned to be paid by producers.  

It is unlikely that the revenue shortfall will be forgone, and extremely likely that the burden will fall on the 'risk creators' i.e. importers. While the government has previously indicated that such action would be a breach of World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules, in a contemporary environment with major global powers reintroducing protectionist policies, anything is possible. READ MORE

Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) is proud to partner with SCLAA

Take time out to celebrate the achievements of your peers and enjoy keynote addresses. The SCLAA series of events provides a networking opportunity for all genders to build on inclusion and diversity in the industry. Click HERE for further information.

FTA member discount rates are available to attend these fabulous SCLAA events (excluding WA due to low event cost).

Join in the fun and mix with fellow colleagues and new ones - Dinner / Drinks and Entertainment till midnight. Please refer HERE  for more info

Tickets: $185.00 per person or $1850.00 per table of ten

FTA / APSA - IN THE MEDIA

ABC Country Hour - Biosecurity Protection Levy & Terminal Access Charges

FTA / APSA had the opportunity on ABC National Radio last Thursday 13 February 2025 to address our position on cost recovery, make extensive references to incontestable charges administered by stevedores and empty container parks (totaling more than $2BN annually) and a call for government intervention.
 
We are pleased to advise that this interview aired on 'Country Hour' Victoria, Queensland South Australia; recording available HERE (START 39min 33sec to END 45min 25sec).

FTA / APSA - TRAINING & EVENTS

Australian Border Force (ABF) & Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) Mandatory CPD & CBC Modules

Customs Broker Licensing Period to 31 March 2025

ABF - The ABF Mandatory CPD module for the 2024/25 CPD is live - READ MORE

DAFF - The DAFF Mandatory CBC Activity 24-25/01 (CPD0215) is now live on the Department's Learnhub site. The assessment has been uploaded onto the FTA training platform "MYFTACPD"  under "My Learning" and "Active" filter for FTA members that attended a 2024 CPD Border Compliance Program or for those that have purchased an online training package for the period ending 31 March 2025. The Assessment must be completed by Monday 17 March 2025.

Further details available HERE

If you are experiencing issues accessing Learnhub - please refer to How to Log into Learnhub. 

The Mandatory CBC Activity 24-25/01 (CPD0215) course will provide you with 2 CPD Points in Stream A on successful completion of the assessment. Please ensure you take this into consideration when completing your 30 CPD points for the customs broker licencing period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.

FTA have launched our draft programs for the 2025-2026 CPD Border Compliance Program sessions with content delivered by an expert panel of presenters from across government and commerce. Please view the program and purchase your tickets via the links below. We recommend that you book now to receive the member early bird rate.

SYDNEY (Novotel Hotel - Brighton Beach, Brighton Le Sands)
Friday 4 April 2025 - Program HERE / Registration HERE
Saturday 5 April 2025 - Program HERE / Registration HERE

MELBOURNE (Hyatt Place Essendon Fields)
9 May 2025 - Program HERE / Registration HERE
10 May 2025 - Program HERE / Registration HERE

PERTH (Double Tree by Hilton Perth Waterfront)
Saturday 24 May 2025 - Program HERE / Registration HERE

BRISBANE (Brisbane Airport Conference Centre)
Wednesday 4 June 2025 - Program HERE / Registration HERE

FTA offers Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and Continued Biosecurity Competency (CBC) training online for the customs broker licencing period 1 April to 31 March each year. The cost of an online training package is $150 (excl. gst) for member organisations with bulk discounts available on a sliding scale.

Licensed customs brokers not employed by a corporate FTA member, can purchase an Individual Membership which includes online CPD & CBC training for the cost of only $300 (excl. gst) per customs broker licensing period.

LOGISTICS

ANL, a renowned shipping company with a rich history in Australia and the Oceania region and Australia's largest rail freight company Aurizon have partnered on a landbridging supply chain solution for Asia Pacific container traffic through the Port of Darwin.

The new service offers customers shipping from Asian Pacific ports to Darwin, with direct rail connection to Adelaide and southern Australian destinations as required. READ MORE

Voluntary Port Performance Framework Quarterly Dashboard

Freight Victoria, in the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP), has released the 2024 quarterly dashboard under the Voluntary Port Performance Model (VPPM).

Industry stakeholders can view the dashboard by visiting the Voluntary Performance Monitoring Framework (VPMF) webpage. READ MORE

Contact John Park to feature your organisation or service in an upcoming edition - prospectus HERE

Warehouse and Depot Security Identification Card (WADSIC)

Veritas offers a comprehensive solution for customs depots and warehouse license holders to meet their WADSIC compliance obligations. By using a dedicated WADSIC portal, authorised representatives can effectively manage their personnel as prescribed in both ACN 2022/46 and ACN 2024/21.READ MORE

SEAFREIGHT

The Port of Melbourne's Public Boat Tours are back on Saturday 1 and 22 March 2025, with all proceeds going to support the thousands of hard-working and resilient seafarers who work tirelessly to make sure our goods are delivered - 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. To register and find out more READ MORE

AIRFREIGHT

Turkish Cargo makes eBookings more efficient and flexible for customers through direct data connection to CargoWise

WiseTech Global (ASX:WTC) have announced that Turkish Cargo, the world's third largest cargo airline^[1], has joined the CargoWise Carrier Connectivity Program to enable freight forwarders to efficiently plan, book, confirm and manage shipments with the carrier, in real-time from within CargoWise. READ MORE

Qantas Freight Operations

Please refer the Qantas Freight site for updates on operational matters. 

Notices:

BIOSECURITY

Please click HERE  to review the new DAFF Biosecurity Report

BORDER

Notices:

TRADE

DFAT is now welcoming submissions from interested individuals and groups on the opportunities and impacts of Costa Rica's potential accession to the CPTPP.  Stakeholders are invited to consider market access opportunities and challenges for goods and services trade with Costa Rica, including tariff and non-tariff barriers, and barriers to Australian investment into Costa Rica.
 
Please send submissions to CPTPP@dfat.gov.au. More information can be found on the DFAT website: Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) | Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

In this issue the ATIC looks at 

• Rock lobsters back in China

• New trade opportunities for Australian farmers

• Red meat exports continue to record momentum
  READ MORE

Trade Data Updates Week Ending 18th February 2025

National ports, the Australian Bureau of statistics and data from other sources  
LOGIN REQUIRED

Anti-Dumping Notices Data Updates Week Ending 18th February 2025

FTA has compiled a list of Anti-Dumping Notices from the Department of Industry, Science and Resources 
LOGIN REQUIRED

Notices:
17.2.2025 : ATIC - Agribusiness and Food News...read more
17.2.2025 : Anti-Dumping Commission Update Week Ending 14th February 2025 ... login required

WEBINARS & RECORDINGS

Stay at the cutting edge through participation in live webinars and access to recordings – all are FREE & EXCLUSIVE to Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) and the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA) members.     LOGIN REQUIRED 

1.1.2025:  Webinars & Recordings ... login required

Operational Support
For the timeliest response from our team, FTA / APSA members are reminded to send requests for operational support to support@FTAlliance.com.au

To select your communication preferences please click on "Update Subscription Preferences" at the bottom of any FTA notice -  READ MORE

SPONSORS

FTA and APSA are proud to connect members with the following sponsors as leading suppliers of services to the freight and trade sectors.

Sponsorship prospectus is available HERE