McGowan picks Saffioti for transport and planning duty
The incoming Western Australian government has handed over the transport, planning and lands portfolio to former shadow transport minister Rita Saffioti.
New WA premier Mark McGowan announced Saffioti’s appointment while naming his 17-member cabinet in Perth .
The Australian Logistics Council (ALC) welcomes Saffioti to her new role and says it is “positive” to see former WA transport minister Alannah MacTiernan return to the cabinet in her new capacity as the minister of regional development, and agriculture and food.
“It’s especially pleasing that a single minister will be responsible for both the Transport and Planning portfolios,” ALC MD Michael Kilgariff says.
“One of the biggest challenges facing the logistics sector has been a continuing disconnect between those two key policy areas.
“Having a single minister responsible for both will prove an enormous advantage.
“In particular, we must ensure that planning policy takes adequate account of future freight needs, including the protection of freight transport corridors from encroaching residential and commercial development.”
Kilgariff says considering WA’s economy is “heavily reliant” on exports, it is important to ensure the new transport and infrastructure policy considers end-to-end safe and efficient movement of freight as a key issue.
He says ALC will engage with the new minister on crucial issues facing the WA logistics sector, and in the development of a National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy.
“The strategy will be crucial in establishing greater certainty for infrastructure spending and investment beyond the political cycle,” he says.