Shipping Australia was privileged and honoured last Friday, at our annual NSW Christmas Luncheon, to receive an address from Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie, who is the Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, and who is also the Nationals Senator for Victoria.
Senator McKenzie gave the following speech to our guests:
Good afternoon distinguished guests, members of Shipping Australia and all those who contribute so significantly to our nationโs trade task.
I am sorry that I canโt be with you today, but I had to change my travel plans after the passing of a dear friend. Please forgive me as I pay my respects to him and his family at this difficult time.
But it is a privilege to join you, albeit virtually, at this important occasion as we celebrate another successful year for Shipping Australia and its dedicated members.
Thank you to Melwyn [i.e. Capt Melwyn Noronha, CEO of Shipping Australia] for inviting me today, heโs been an excellent advocate for the sector in Canberra, and Iโll look forward to continuing our work together as the 2025 Federal Election nears. Who knows when that might be? Any tips in the room?
Shipping remains at the heart of our national economy, with 99% of our trade volume transported by sea, it is no exaggeration to say that without the shipping industry then Australiaโs economic engine would grind to a halt.
From the export of our world-class agricultural products, minerals, manufactured goods, to the import of vital resources and consumer goods, maritime shipping underpins our prosperity, supports local jobs, and keeps our shelves stocked.
Australia is a maritime nation and our geography ensures that shipping will always remain vital to our way of life. However, this importance comes with challenges. Local supply chains are increasingly complex, costs are rising, and Australians are feeling the effects of these pressures on their cost of living.
The Coalition remains focused on addressing these challenges by delivering practical, reliable, and affordable solutions for all Australians.
Your advocacy for the maritime sector ensures that it remains a critical part of our economic strategy. We recognise and commend you for your efforts to foster collaboration between industry stakeholders, develop practical policy solutions and champion the efficiency and resilience of the sector.
Reliable shipping begins at an integrated and efficient transport network level. And the Coalition has always understood that our ports are not just isolated hubs but are part of a broader supply chain that includes rail, road, and intermodal facilities. Without seamless connections between these networks, inefficiencies build, costs rise, and delays occur.
As we have seen highlighted this week, the Albanese shipping laws enacted in 2012 have seen the fleet of Australian-flagged vessels shrink by more than half. As a legislative means of supporting the Australian shipping industry, this legislation has actually been a massive fail.
Extraordinarily, as you read in the newspaper reports this week, it has become cheaper to ship Aussie goods overseas and back again rather then sending them directly between Australian ports.
If Australian industry cannot afford to ship products around our country then Australian workers will ultimately be the losers. Looking ahead to the 2025 election, the Coalition will advocate further for integration development of our transport infrastructure to support our freight sector and consequently our national economy.
By improving these critical connections we can deliver a more reliable supply chain, reduce congestion, and ultimately, lower the cost for businesses and consumers alike.
Of course, Australiaโs economic future is tied not only to our domestic policies but also to our strategic partnerships. The AUKUS alliance with the United States and the United Kingdom underscores our commitment to securing vital shipping routes and protecting the global supply chains that Australians rely on every day well into next century.
Reliable shipping means that businesses can depend upon consistent supply chains keeping costs stable and predictable, it ensures that exporters can get their goods to market without unnecessary delays, strengthening their competitiveness, and supporting our regional economies.
Our commitment to the Transport Sector is clear. By improving reliability and efficiency, we can deliver tangible cost-of-living relief for families right across the nation. Every time we put the cost of transport up, we put the cost of goods up.
We will not make your task harder by implementing union-friendly industrial relations laws, or by taking the side of militant unions determined to shut down your operations and forcing you to deal with the unions โ or elseโฆ as this governmentโs done.
This is especially the case when it is in the interests of the country, Australian families, and small businesses. Government should have intervened to keep the ports operating, enabling fair negotiations to take place between operators and their workforce last year.
We stand ready to work with Shipping Australia, and all stakeholders, to ensure that maritime shipping continues to thrive as the backbone of our economy.
Your dedication, expertise, and advocacy are essential to ensuring that Australia remains a trading powerhouse and that our maritime sector continues to thrive.
I encourage you to take pride in all that youโve achieved this yearโฆ from ensuring the smooth operation of our supply chain, to advancing practical solutions to the industryโs challenges. Your work has a direct and meaningful impact on the lives of everyday Australians.
This Christmas, I hope that you can find time to reflect on these achievements, recharge with your loved ones, and prepare for the opportunities and challenges of the year ahead.
Together we can navigate the challenges of tomorrow and we can deliver a future of shared prosperity and opportunity for all Australians.
Thank you.
I wish you a safe and joyous festive season.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Shipping Australia’s NSW Christmas Luncheon
Shipping Australia was privileged and honoured that last Friday, at our annual NSW Christmas Luncheon, to receive an address from Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie, who is the Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, and who is also the Nationals Senator for Victoria.
About Senator McKenzie
Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie is the Senator for Victoria, and the Leader of the Nationals in the Senate. She has served on the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee, an influential Senate Standing Committee, for several years in addition to many other Committee positions, particularly on Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. Senator McKenzie has held the position of Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development from June 2022. She has previously served in a range of Ministerial and Cabinet Ministerial positions from 2017 onwards, including as the Minister for Agriculture.
