After enduring eight years of freight chaos under the Andrews Labor Government, Victorians will get a reliable freight network under an elected Liberals and Nationals Government.
Instead of ignoring the issues within the state’s supply chain, Victoria needs a Government that listens to industry stakeholders and makes meaningful commitments to fix the issues that matter most.
As part of our commitment to ensure the supply chain in Victoria is efficient and reliable, a Matthew Guy led Liberals and Nationals Government will:
- Make a $20 million, four year investment into the Mode Shift Incentive Scheme, which encourages industry to shift more containerised freight from road to rail where it is most efficient. This long-term commitment will provide much-needed certainty to transport operators and encourage long-term investment in Victorian freight facilities.
The scheme was started by the Liberals and Nationals in 2012, but has been slashed into single-year agreements by the Andrews Labor Government, which also cut the funding from $5 million per year to just $3.5 million in 2022-23.
- We will also work with the Australian Road Research Board to produce a ‘Gold Standard Freight Network’, which will include a full analysis of the busiest and most important freight routes across Victoria and look at what issues are preventing the running of more efficient trucks.
Shadow Minister for Ports and Freight, Roma Britnell said the Andrews Labor Government has failed to produce a reliable freight network that is fit for purpose.
“One thing we know is certain – if the Victorian supply chain is inefficient, everything below it crumbles. Goods become more expensive, and delays increase.
“Daniel Andrews’ strategy for freight has failed. Less freight is being moved on rail than when his Government was elected, and the roads are crumbling under the weight of trucks as a result.
“Our plan will ensure we get freight back onto rail where it is most efficient, and get work started on the most important road freight routes and make sure they’re up to standard for the most efficient class of vehicles.”