Published: 9 Apr 2009
Transport Minister Anthony Albanese announced the board members of the Shipping Policy Advisory Group on February 16. The group will help the government respond to the Rebuilding Australia's Coastal Shipping Industry report produced late last year by a bipartisan parliamentary committee.
The group will review the committee's recommendations and advise the minister on initiatives needed to revitalise Australia's critical shipping industry.
Other members of the group are:
Colin Bailey General Manger, Major Projects and Cornwall Coal, Cement Australia
Bob Bird Chief Executive Officer, ASP Ship Management
Ben Fargher Chief Executive Officer, National Farmers Federation
Noel Hart General Manager, North West Shelf Shipping Services Company
John Lines Chief Executive Officer, ANL Container Line Pty Ltd
Peter Manion General Manager Operations, Rio Tinto Marine
David Parmeter Managing Director, Teekay Shipping
Grant Williams Manager, Jebsens International.
The diversity of the group's membership will help to make sure the reform agenda taken forward by the government meets the industry's long term priorities and needs, Mr Albanese said.
For a large, relatively remote island continent like Australia, the shipping industry is a gateway to overseas markets and vital to national security.
Australia depends on shipping almost exclusively for the transportation of its exports and imports. At the same time, coastal shipping fulfils almost 30 per cent of the domestic transport task.
The previous government's indifference led to a substantial decline in the Australian shipping industry.
The Rudd Labor government is determined that shipping will once again fulfil its potential as a critical element to our national transport system.
