Victoria’s State of Disaster - Freight Update

Daniel Kasif|Aug 3, 2020|No Comment

Sea Freight Logistics Australia Supply Chain

Following Sunday’s address from Victoria’s the Hon Daniel Andrews PM, the state of Victoria has been declared in a State of Disaster. Strict restrictions have been enforced for the public and businesses operating within the state. Many of which restrictions impact the freight and logistics businesses of Victoria and all other domestic trade partners. 

 

The following restrictions are most impactful to these industries;

  • A number of permitted industry workplaces in metropolitan Melbourne are to close or are permitted to conduct restricted operations;
  • Retail stores will be permitted to accept stock and operate contactless ‘click and collect’ and delivery services with strict safety protocol in place;
  • Confirmation was received that ports, airports, freight and logistics may continue operations with strict safety protocol in place.

 

It is imperative to note that while there is business continuity, all Victorians are required to work from home, except where it is not practical. 

 

Although ports, airports, freight and logistics services may continue, Qantas Freight has temporarily paused all freight operations in Melbourne Freight terminals in response to advice from the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services. 

 

Qantas Freight confirms that freight terminals will remain closed until at least midnight 04 August 2020 and that freight can neither be lodged or collected at either terminal. Freight services will return to normal as soon as possible with current updates available from Qantas HERE.

 

In an attempt to keep the logistics and freight industries running smoothly, the Freight and Trade Alliance (FTA) and Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA) took an opportunity to advocate for all importers by expressing the need to take deliveries and unload filled containers.

 

During this advocacy, FTA and APSA stated that it is “Critical that all imports are allowed to flow otherwise we will quickly have an estimated 300,000 containers over the next six weeks quickly congesting our wharves and impeding the delivery of all goods such as food, PPE and medical supplies.”

 

“Importing containers need to be unpacked and made available to our exporters, in particular to support our struggling agriculture sector that are expecting substantial crops this Spring and are desperate to reach overseas markets.”

 

To keep up to date with the current Covid-19 restrictions and the impact on the Australian freight landscape, refer to our recent articles.