FTA / APSA to present before todays Parliamentary Inquiry

Thursday, July 30, 2020

Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) and the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA) will be represented by David Scott (Member Representative - Sea) and myself at today's parliamentary hearing.

We are privileged to have this opportunity in response to our formal submission (focused on shipping competition and stevedore-imposed Infrastructure Surcharges) and a supplementary submission (focused on business continuity for the air cargo sector).

A parliamentary inquiry into the impact of COVID-19 on Australia's defence, trade and international relations will turn its attention to the pandemic's impact on Australia's freight and shipping industries at its next public hearing.

Senator David Fawcett, Chair of the Parliament's Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee, says that an effective and trusted maritime freight system is critical to Australia's economy.

Senator Fawcett said "Australia's import and export supply chains, including our ports, have underpinned our economy to date and have kept many goods that we depend on moving during the pandemic. Our ongoing prosperity depends on an efficient and resilient shipping and logistics industry."

Witnesses from the Freight and Trade Alliance, the Australian Peak Shippers Association, and Ports Australia will give evidence on the freight, shipping and logistics sector's response to the pandemic.

Full terms of reference for the inquiry are on the Committee website.

Public hearing details

Date: Thursday 30 July
Time: 3.00 pm – 4.30 pm AEST 
Location: By teleconference

The hearings will be audio streamed live at aph.gov.au/live

Paul Zalai -  Director and Co-Founder, FTA / Secretariat, APSA