Notice of a disruption event under Victorian Voluntary Code of Practice

As outlined in member notices over recent days, Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) and the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA) collaborated with Shipping Australia Ltd (SAL) and the Container Transport Alliance Australia (CTAA) calling on the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) to declare a 'disruption event'. 

FORMAL CORRESPONDENCE AVAILABLE HERE

In what is a positive outcome from our advocacy activity, the following formal notice has been released by Praveen Reddy (Executive Director, Freight Victoria Department of Transport and Planning)

Notice of a disruption event under Victoria's Voluntary Code of Practice
 
The Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) has determined that the prolonged container supply chain disruptions at the Port of Melbourne justifies the notification of a Disruption Event under the Voluntary Code of Practice.
 
DTP published the Voluntary Code of Practice in October 2023 to provide guidance to industry on the coordinated response to disruption events at the Port of Melbourne.
 
A disruption event is generally defined as an unexpected event or supply chain blockage that leads to the prolonged inability of goods to flow efficiently.
 
Next steps 

• DTP will convene and chair a Disruption Response Group, commencing Friday 22 December 2023 with representation from:
  • Port of Melbourne Operations
  • Container Transport Alliance Australia and container transport operators
  • Freight Trade Alliance
  • Shipping Australia Limited and shipping lines
  • Container terminal operators
  • Empty container park operators
  • DTP including Freight Victoria and West Gate Tunnel project representatives
  • Other key industry stakeholders as required
     
• The Disruption Response Group will develop a Disruption Response Plan with the aim of alleviating the operational and financial cost impacts associated with the disruption event, including:
  • Improving awareness and monitoring of the disruption event
  • Managing heavy vehicle access to the Port of Melbourne
  • Minimising commercial implications due to congestion
  • Supporting exporter operations
  • Managing empty container movement and storage
  • Minimising impact of concurrent network disruptions due to infrastructure works.
     
• The Disruption Response Group is collectively responsible for implementing the recommended steps in the Disruption Response Plan.

We thank representatives on the Disruption Response Group for their participation in mitigating this disruption event.
 
We will continue to communicate with industry on progress of Disruption Response Plan actions.

Sal Milici - Licensed Customs Broker 
General Manager Trade Policy & Operations - FTA / APSA
Chair – Container Cleanliness Working Group | Global Shippers Forum (GSF)