and Opposition for the Inland Rail Link and a study into the viability of an East Coast high speed rail
network.
ALC is the peak national body for Australia’s freight Transport & Logistics (T&L) industry. ALC aims to
influence government policy decisions to ensure that Australia has a safe, secure, reliable,
sustainable and competitive freight T&L industry.
“ALC is very pleased that Minister for Infrastructure & Transport, Anthony Albanese, yesterday
committed $20 million to conduct a feasibility study into a High Speed Rail line between Melbourne,
Sydney and Brisbane”, said the Chief Executive of ALC, Michael Kilgariff.
“We also welcome the Government’s commitment to make funding available for the planning, corridor
preservation and land acquisition necessary for the construction of the Inland Rail Link.
“The fact the Opposition has now matched these commitments demonstrates that freight T&L
infrastructure is achieving bipartisan support and recognition as ‘nationally significant infrastructure’.
“ALC supports the development of a fast rail link, which would take people off existing lines and
enable freight to move more efficiently.
“ALC is especially supportive that the first stage of the study will focus on the Newcastle - Sydney
corridor.
“The Sydney - Newcastle link has been identified as a massive freight bottle-neck because transport
of people takes precedence over freight, acting as a national economic impediment.
“ALC is also very supportive of the need to make funding available for the planning, corridor
preservation and land acquisition necessary for the Inland Rail Link from Brisbane to Melbourne
through Central-West New South Wales.
“While ALC recognises these projects need to stack up against accepted criteria, the role of NSW as
a freight corridor of national significance has been ignored in the past.
“The Melbourne – Brisbane freight corridor, be it road or rail, has not been considered a priority by
the NSW Government to fund, because the benefits are accrued nationally”, Mr Kilgariff said.
Mr Kilgariff said ALC has been advocating that nationally significant infrastructure should be judged
on the importance of the infrastructure to the national economy.
“ALC has previously endorsed the call by Infrastructure Australia Chairman Rod Eddington for a
national approach to the planning and management of ports and freight movement”, Mr Kilgariff said.
“The function of the National Freight Network Plan Framework should be to ensure the regulatory
environment, infrastructure and investment are in place to meet Australia’s future freight needs.
“Support for nationally significant infrastructure through the Inland Rail Link and an East Coast high
speed rail network bring a national freight network closer to fruition”, Mr Kilgariff said.
Via ALC
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