UPDATE 6 - Victorian State of Disaster - interim approval permitting importers to receive and unload containers

INTERIM APPROVAL  I have just been in contact with representatives of the Hon Melissa Horne MP, Minister for Ports and Freight (Victoria) who advised a positive result as a direct result of the advocacy from Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) and the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA). I am pleased to confirm that ALL importers have been given an 'interim approval' to receive and unload import containers.  IMPORTANT NOTES: it is a requirement that employees are in possession of Permitted worker scheme permits (effective 11.59 AEST tonight, Wednesday 5 August 2020) and that warehousing and cold storage risk mitigations must be initiated in accordance with a 'High Risk COVIDSafe Plan' (effective 11.59 AEST Friday 7 August 2020); and   the ongoing status of the 'interim approval' is subject to further consideration in coming days.

ONGOING ADVOCACY FTA / APSA will continue the advocacy lead to ensure that this 'interim approval' is extended for the duration of the projected six week declared 'State of Disaster' MEDIA FTA / APSA will continue engagement with media to build on the excellent article in this morning's Australian Financial Review.

Supermarket deliveries at risk from stage four lockdown - AFR (Jenny Wiggins). https://www.afr.com/companies/infrastructure/supermarket-deliveries-at-risk-from-stage-four-lockdown-20200804-p55iad EXTRACT Importers and exporters, want their services to be declared "essential".   "It is critical that all imports are allowed to flow otherwise we quickly have an estimated 300,000 containers over the next six weeks quickly congesting our wharves and impeding the delivery of all goods," said Paul Zalai, director of the Freight & Trade Alliance.   "We also need these import containers to be unpacked and made available for our exporters, in particular to support our struggling agricultural sector, that are expecting substantial crops this spring and are desperate to reach overseas markets."

GOVERNMENT Further to our letter to the he Hon Daniel Andrews MP Premier of Victoria on 3 August, FTA / APSA this morning sent further correspondence to the Premier and the Hon Melissa Horne MP, Minister for Ports and Freight and executives of the National COVID-19 Coordination Commission. FTA / APSA will continue engagement with both state and federal government representatives as well as Victorian independents and shadow Ministers. We note tonight's media release from Roma Britnell, MP Shadow Minister for Ports and Freight.

Where is Freight Minister Melissa Horne? The chaos surrounding who can and can't go to work in the supply and distribution system is threatening to leave critical medical supplies stuck on Victoria's docks - but Labor's Minister responsible is silent.   Victoria's fragile supply chain is close to breaking point but Ports and Freight Minister Melissa Horne is nowhere to be seen.     The Australian Peak Shippers Association and Freight Trade Alliance have advised they can't get an answer from the Andrews Labor Government whether all importers are permitted to receive and unload sea containers.   The association has warned that all imports must be allowed to flow, otherwise an estimated 300,000 containers over the next six weeks will be left sitting on the dock.   This will quickly congest wharves and the impeding  delivery of all goods, including PPE, medical equipment, supplies and food will be delayed.     So far, there has been silence from Minister Horne with Victoria on the verge of an unprecedented lockdown.   Comments attributable to Shadow Minister for Freight, Roma Britnell:   "We have reached a critical point and the supply chain is at breaking point because of the Andrews Labor Government's unprecedented shutdown.   "If Labor doesn't act now to ensure all importers can have access to their containers, then critical goods will be left stuck behind locked gates.   "Minister Horne needs to get this mess sorted otherwise Victorians will be seeing empty shelves and our frontline healthcare workers won't have the supplies they need to get us through Victoria's second wave."

FURTHER DETAIL Please do not hesitate to contact me direct at pzalai@FTAlliance.com.au or 0408 280 123 - we will continue to update our dedicated 'State of Disaster' Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) site available HERE

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