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As highlighted in our initial submission to the National Covid-19 Coordination Commission on 27 March 2020, the air cargo sector desperately needed financial support.
Members will recall the Federal Government responded with the implementation of the International Freight Assistance Mechanism (IFAM), initially injecting $110M as a temporary measure to help restore critical global supply chains heavily impacted by COVID-19 containment measures.
FTA has since actively collaborated with the Austrade IFAM implementation and policy teams and in parallel, have been advocating to government for an extension of the measure.
The sensational news is that we have this morning received confirmation IFAM will receive a boost of $240 million which is anticipated to extend the measure until the end of 2020. "This is about restoring global supply chains. These freight flights have been critical to getting produce out the door during these tough times and helping to keep our exporters in business and connected to their hard-won established global customers.Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said.
The goal is now clearly to get primary producers back to work and increase tonnage moving by air. FTA will be attending a briefing hosted by Austrade in coming days and will provide members with further updates.
Source https://www.trademinister.gov.au/minister/simon-birmingham/media-release/freight-flights-boost-australian-exporters
If you have any questions or need more information, please email IFAM@austrade.gov.au |