The International Freight Assistance Mechanism (IFAM) has now been officially confirmed, with the Australian Government announcing an additional $260.9 million to continue operations until 30 June 2022, with an operational tail to the end of July 2022.

As Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) and Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA) members will recall from our update disseminated on 3 June 2021, FTA / APSA representatives Olga Harriton (APSA Chair, Global Logistics Manager - Manildra Group), Mary Wu (General Manager Processing and Export, Australian Meat Industry Council - AMIC) and I met with the Hon Dan Tehan (Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) and senior advisors including Michael Byrne (International Freight Co-ordinator General overseeing IFAM).

2 June 2021 - Parliament House, Canberra

(L to R) Paul Zalai, Mary Wu, Minister Tehan, Michael Byrne

The meeting was structured around our call for a Federal Regulator to oversee reforms and a detailed examination of the seven (7) recommendations outlined in the FTA / APSA submission to the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Vulnerable Supply Chains:

shipping competition review
minimum service levels and notification periods
regulation of Terminal Access Charges
regulation of container detention practices
waterfront industrial relations reform
implementation of Biosecurity reform priorities
extension of IFAM funding

We are delighted to see today's formal announcement from Austrade confirming IFAM will continue to 30 June 2022 to assist to industry to adapt to the new international trade environment. A joint media release from Federal Ministers Tehan and Littleproud is available HERE

FTA / APSA thank the Federal Government for their positive engagement as we progress through the remaining advocacy items outlined above - stay tuned for more encouraging news soon.

Paul Zalai - Director FTA | Secretariat APSA | Director GSF

IFAM - Emergency freight support extended to help Australian businesses