CTAA congratulates reappointed Ports & Freight MP

Container Transport Alliance Australia (CTAA) has congratulated Melissa Horne on her reappointment as Minister for Ports & Freight under the re-elected Andrews Labor government in Victoria.

It notes she has also been appointed to the Roads & Road Safety portfolio.

During the last several years of international supply chain disruptions, container logistics congestion and associated landside logistics challenges, Melissa listened to the sector and engaged openly and proactively, the Alliance adds.

“CTAA and our Alliance companies have enjoyed a productive and proactive relationship with Minister Horne,” Neil Chambers, CTAA Director, says.

“We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with the Minister on existing and future initiatives impacting on the container logistics sector.”

Initiatives included convening the Victorian Container Storage Working Group at the height of container logistics congestion in 2021, which led to the publication of a practical Industry Guide to help cargo owners and freight service providers plan for and respond to disruption in the container freight supply chain through the Port of Melbourne.

CTAA notes the Minister has also championed the continuing development of Victoria’s Voluntary Port Performance Model, including the Voluntary Pricing Protocol addressing clear protocols on stevedore landside charges amendments, and expansion of the Voluntary Performance Monitoring Framework to include more key indicators of the performance of the landside container terminal interface and the inclusion of initial performance indicators for empty container management.

“We can’t improve what we don’t accurately measure,” Neil says.

“It’s been very important for the Victorian government to develop, collate and publish these independent analyses of the container logistics landside interfaces so that both government and the commercial parties in the sector can focus on collaborative improvement initiatives.

“CTAA is also pleased that the Minister will continue to be involved in championing productivity improvements in empty container management through the Port of Melbourne, including the Empty Container Park Paperless Truck Entry Trial which will progress in early 2023.”

The Alliance says it looks forward to continuing to work with the Minister, her advisers, and Freight Victoria within the Victorian Department of Transport on these and future initiatives.

This feature first appeared here.