ALRTA Weekly Update: July 25

Australia’s Trusted Partner for Transport Innovation

Rural Freight Answers the Call on National Reform
ALRTA’s G/M Policy and Strategy Ashley Mackinnon Leads the Charge at Federal Roundtable.
This week, ALRTA submitted a landmark policy contribution to the Federal Government’s Economic Reform Roundtable — a high-level, Cabinet Room discussion convened by Treasurer Jim Chalmers to shape Australia’s next wave of national reform.
Our submission positions rural freight as a front-line enabler of productivity, resilience, and budget integrity — with real-world solutions built from the ground up.

Our Reform Agenda Includes:

• National High Productivity Vehicle Access System: End manual approvals and promote productivity for modern safer equipment.
• 6-Star Trucking: A voluntary model rewarding operators who lead in fatigue management, maintenance, training, animal welfare, and biosecurity — with up to $1.1 billion in annual national savings.
• Disaster-Resilient Freight Corridors: Invest in key routes that keep food and freight moving during fire, flood, or crisis.
• National Truckwash & Biosecurity Infrastructure Plan: Developed with industry, not imposed on it.
• Rural Driver Training Academy: Address shortages through structured national pathways and formal recognition of rural freight as a skilled profession.

Ashley Mackinnon summed it up: “This isn’t a wish list — it’s a blueprint. Rural freight is ready to lead. We just need
Canberra to back us in."

Our message is clear: Freight isn’t just transport. It’s economic continuity. Let’s give it the leadership it deserves. 

Saleyards Step up: National alignment takes centre stage

ALRTA & LBRCA Build Momentum at Wagga Conference

ALRTA was proud to represent industry at this week’s Saleyards Australia Conference in Wagga Wagga, joining LBRCA’s Bec Coleman, Peter Fitzgerald, Luke Matthew, Peter Dawson, and LRTASA’s Peter Edmonds in robust discussions with saleyard operators from across the country.

Key Developments:

• Biosecurity at the Forefront: ALRTA advanced conversations with Animal Health Australia, calling for effluent to be formally recognised as both a biosecurity threat and fit-to-load issue. This is crucial for improved infrastructure, compliance, and animal welfare outcomes.
• Meat Standards Australia (MSA) Reform Alert: MSA’s push for livestock (including lamb) to reach processors within 48 hours of farm dispatch via the saleyard network could pressure drivers to move animals immediately post-sale. This raises serious fatigue management concerns. ALRTA will meet with MLA and MSA to seek practical solutions.
• National Accreditation Integration: Saleyards are moving toward unified national accreditation. ALRTA and LBRCA are working to embed CoRLink into this reform — aligning driver safety, welfare standards, and operator compliance. The tone was professional, future-focused, and collaborative. The saleyard sector is transitioning from a local service to a national business partner — And yes, we spoke about conditions of yards and had a very open and robust forum with them. Well done to the members who attended and took part in this discussion.

Infrastructure That Delivers: Wagga Wagga Saleyards raise the bar

WWLMC Unveils Major Nationally Significant Upgrade
As part of the Saleyards Australia conference, we visited the Wagga Wagga Livestock Marketing Centre (WWLMC) and toured has the sweeping infrastructure upgrade that sets the gold standard for Australian saleyards.

What’s New?

• 6 x Under & Over Cattle Ramps: Safely and efficiently load both decks of B-doubles and road trains — a must with the growing volume of large units.
• Arriving soon-18 x Sheep Loadout Ramps, including:
  o 9 x 9-metre adjustable ramps that can load to the 4th deck.
  o 9 trailer ramps designed for crate trucks and smaller vehicles.
• Best-Practice Lead-Up Pens: Walkways, secure gate systems, and design features that reduce risk and increase throughput — all built to exceed AS 5340 standards.
  

The work, delivered by long-time partner ProWay Livestock Equipment, reflects two decades of collaboration, innovation, and trust.
“The upgrades allow for faster, safer loading during high-volume sale days,” said WWLMC Manager Paul Martin.
“ProWay’s staged approach means we never miss a sale — and we’re proud of the standard we’re setting for the nation.”
With stock volumes surging from NSW and Victoria, WWLMC is also developing a long-term master plan focused on continued growth, technology integration, and welfare leadership.

Congratulations the members that had input into this master plan. ALRTA applauds this effort as a national case study in saleyard excellence — and proof of what’s possible when infrastructure, safety, and efficiency work hand in hand.

Wrapping Up: Real Reform, Real Impact
This week paints a picture of where rural freight is heading:

• Policy influence at the national level
• Strong partnerships in critical supply chain hubs
• Infrastructure that drives welfare and efficiency gains

To every ALRTA member: your work on the ground makes this advocacy possible — and credible.
Let’s keep the pressure on, the conversations real, and the standards high.
View ALRTA's Submission to the Economic Reform Roundtable.

Until next week — stay safe.

Anthony
Together, we are stronger.

Save the dates for 2025

• LRTAV State Conference. 8-9 August 2025, Move Museum, Shepparton, VIC - MORE INFO HERE  
• LRTAWA State Conference.  22-23 August, 2025. The Vines Resort, Swan Valley - MORE INFO HERE

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