Australia’s leading Road Transport Associations have joined forces to call on Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments to incentivise trucking operators to cost-effectively transition to alternative fuel vehicles (AFV).
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The call follows a Report by post-graduate logistics researcher Samson Fu, under the guidance of Elizabeth Jackson, Associate Professor of Supply Chain Management Curtin University, Western Australia, which investigated industry’s perspectives on achieving the effective and effective use of AFVs, and the role of Governments in fostering the pathway to Net Zero 2050.
Fu said decarbonisation would be “challenging: for industry but “essential, because a low and zero carbon future will arrive soon”.
“To achieve the target set by the Government,” he said, “incentives and a clear roadmap from the Government to foster the adoption of AFVs are crucial for logistics operators.”
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Road Freight NSW (RFNSW), Western Roads Federation (WRF), NT Road Transport Association (NTRTA) and the Tasmanian Transport Association (TTA) say there must be greater support for industry, with low-emissions freight financing and other commercial incentives, to ensure that truck decarbonisation will be economically viable.
WRF Chief Executive Operator, Cam Dumesny, said it was imperative that Governments consult with transport operators, as the transition to AFVs would need financial support as well as a raft of technological, system design and cultural changes across industry.
“Our Governments need to ask transport fleet operators what initiatives are needed to foster the move to AFVs. The fact is, no one has ever asked them,” said Dumesny.
“The effective transition of our industry to alternative fuels will only occur when its commercially advantageous to do so. Fundamentally, transport fleet operators will buy AFVs when they can get a commercial advantage over using ICE. So, it is essential to know what our industry actually thinks are the barriers to AFV becoming a commercial advantage.”
Dumesny’s comments were echoed across the board, with RFNSW CEO, Simon O’Hara, highlighting that members “simply couldn’t afford” to decarbonise their fleets and transition to alternative fuels in a cost-effective manner, NTRTA EO, Louise Bilato, highlighting the way the issue of decarbonisation is contributing to cost-of-living pressures, and TTA Executive Director, Michelle Harwood, saying Tasmania’s net zero ambitions needed to factor in an effective plan for the transport industry.
News of the road transport associations joining in unison come after the Australian Constructors Association released a report calling for greater investment in the development of alternative fuels, while the Federal Government allocated $18.5 million for low-carbon liquid fuels in its latest budget.