FTA / APSA - ADVOCACY

Last week Sal Milici and Tom Jensen hosted members and industry colleagues for a day of important discussions and updates at the APSA AGM. A special thanks to Intermodal Terminal Company — an APSA member and proud sponsor of the event — for presenting on the exciting developments at the Somerton Intermodal Terminal, due to open in October. A project that will be transformative for Victoria's freight landscape.

We were also privileged to hear from Hon Melissa Horne, Minister for Ports and Freight, who provided valuable insights on the newly launched Victorian Freight Plan.

The day concluded with a national conversation on landside charges, reinforcing the importance of collaboration and advocacy for exporters, importers, and logistics providers alike.
READ MORE

FTA / APSA - OUT & ABOUT

Special thanks to Kendall Messer for her dedication and service as WA State Representative over the past years, your contribution has been invaluable. Congratulations to our new WA State Rep Pia van Wyngaard (nee Rosenkranz), we're all so excited to support you and see what's ahead!

FTA / APSA - IN THE MEDIA

Australian Financial Review - Australia Post pauses service to US amid Trump tariff changes

Emma McGrath-Cohen from the AFR reached out to Paul Zalai, director of the Freight and Trade Alliance, who said some logistics providers were able to anticipate and prepare for Trump's tariffs on e-commerce goods, but postal authorities globally have been caught short with insufficient time to adapt.

But the readiness of Australia Post was a smaller concern to Zalai in comparison to the fundamental shift in trading patterns that the Trump tariff changes will cause.

"This policy change will push businesses away from high-volume, cross-border shipments of individual consignments and toward more conventional logistics models such as bulk importing, warehousing in the US, and domestic fulfilment," Zalai said.
"By applying tariffs at the retail sale price rather than the wholesale or manufactured cost, the US government's removal of the de minimis threshold strips away the cost advantage of low-value cross-border transactions that previously entered duty-free."

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FTA / APSA - UPCOMING EVENTS

FTA / APSA - TRAINING

MANDATORY ABF CPD MODULE
 
FTA has received confirmation from the Australian Border Force that the Mandatory ABF Module for the customs broker licensing period ending 31 March 2026 will be scheduled in January 2026 and will need to be completed by 31 March 2026. The Department will publish an ACN closer to the date with further details.

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LOGISTICS

Patrick's electric trucks get thumbs up

The trucks and dedicated charging infrastructure at Fremantle were an Australian first in the port industry's transition to electric vehicles. READ MORE (story credit DCN - picture credit PortxGroup)

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

• General maintenance activities (inspections, fender works, asbestos removal in laydown areas)

• Structural upgrades (bollard replacements and reinforcements)

• Marine works (pile protection and cathodic protection installation)

2025 Senior & Retired Customs Brokers Luncheon - UPDATED

Updated information on the upcoming luncheon has now been provided.- please review the link below for information on attendance - menu selection and payment - CLICK 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

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SEAFREIGHT

Port of Townsville - Notification of piling works

Piling works are being undertaken at Port of Townsville as part of ongoing construction works on Berths 3 and 4. Piling is expected to commence the morning of Wednesday 27 August 2025 and continue during daylight hours for approximately seven (7) working days.

Work will commence from 7am and continue until 5pm on weekdays. Works are scheduled on Saturday 30 August 2025 between 8am and 4pm. No work will be carried out on Sundays.  READ MORE

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AIRFREIGHT

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

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BIOSECURITY

Please click HERE to review the DAFF Biosecurity Report - sponsored by WiseTech Academy

BORDER

Criminal syndicate left reeling after massive illicit tobacco bust

A huge haul of illicit tobacco, cigarettes and vapes have been seized in Queensland by the ABF-led Illicit Tobacco Taskforce (ITTF), crushing the operations of one of Australia's biggest illicit tobacco criminal syndicates.

The ABF-led investigation initially commenced in February 2025 following intelligence into a serious organised crime group under Operation Bear.The serious organised crime group is part of a network suspected of illegal tobacco importation, distribution, storage, transport and money laundering representing a significant threat to the Australian community. READ MORE
 

$26 million haul of cocaine seized from Port Botany container

 A forensic examination revealed two bags containing multiple packages of a substance that tested positive for cocaine, each wrapped in blue clingfilm with a '464' label. - READ MORE  (story credit DCN - picture credit AFP/ABF)

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TRADE

Trade Data Updates Week Ending 26th August 2025

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

LOGIN REQUIRED

Anti-Dumping Notices Data Updates Week Ending 26th August 2025

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

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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 

31.7.2025:  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