IMPORTANT - FTA RESPONSE TO CORONAVIRUS

Sunday, March 15, 2020

Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) acknowledges the unfolding impact of the coronavirus on our members and the Australian community.

Most importantly is that everyone stays healthy and that Australian businesses can come through the current situation as well as possible.

How long and how severe the economic downturn will be remains unknown. 

The following is an update of the FTA immediate response and member support initiatives.

CUSTOMS BROKER - CPD SESSIONS POSTPONED

While the latest government advice permits gatherings limited to 500 people, the policy intent is clear that large, non-essential events should be minimised to help slow the spread of coronavirus.

In line with this position, FTA has made the only responsible decision to POSTPONE the following scheduled CPD regional conferences:
  • 1.4.20 - SYDNEY - CPD Border Compliance Program 
  • 4.4.20 - SYDNEY - CPD Border Compliance Program 
  • 17.4.20 - MELBOURNE - CPD Border Compliance Program 
  • 18.4.20 - MELBOURNE - CPD Border Compliance Program
  • 2.5.20 - PERTH - CPD order Compliance Program
  • 20.5.20 - BRISBANE - CPD Border Compliance Program 
We will re-schedule these events within this current CPD period that ends 31 March 2021. 

FTA expects to have some financial implications associated with these cancellations, however at this time it is more important that we consider the health and safety of our members, delegates, speakers and sponsors. We thank you for your understanding and seek your ongoing support at the events when the new dates are announced.

Online CPD options also remain available as outlined HERE.

In the interim, we will continue to keep members up to date with border compliance issues via free webinars, electronic updates and our Across Borders publication. 

OTHER POSTPONED EVENTS

In line with the above position, FTA has also POSTPONED the following events and will provide further details once re-scheduled dates are confirmed:
  • 25.3.20 - PERTH - Risk Management & Incident Reporting 
  • 3.7.20 - Tasmanian Freight & Logistics Forum
  • 13.8.20 - SYDNEY - 2020 Women in Logistics Forum

OPERATIONAL UPDATES & BUSINESS SUPPORT

John Park, Head of Business Operations, will continue to lead FTA's coronavirus management with members, media, government and other key sectors of commerce (ports, shipping lines, stevedores etc). 

We thank members for sharing operational updates which we have been able to incorporate into our "coronavirus weekly report" disseminated by John every Wednesday - John can be contacted direct at jpark@FTAlliance.com.au

Note that FTA members have access to the ongoing ADVICE LINE provided by Employsure on HR matters.

We are delighted to advise that we have engaged the services of Centium  to provide business support on government coronavirus measures and "best practice" initiatives to assist your business.

We will also continue to receive economic updates from Paul Bettany at Collinson FX and insurance commentaries from James Cotis at Logical Insurance Brokers.

SUPPORT - 2020 / 2021 MEMBERS FEES

We have heard the message loud and clear from members that the financial strain of coronavirus is having significant impacts on operations and cash flow.

As a further support measure in these difficult times, we are delighted to advise members of our decision to maintain our existing (low unchanged) rates for the 2020/2021 financial year - refer HERE. 

We thank and appreciate the ongoing support of our sponsors to be able to achieve this member benefit.

Paul Zalai - Director,  FTA / APSA Secretariat