CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY

Thank you, Elysse, for that kind introduction.

I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the lands on which we meet, the Ngunnawal people, and recognise those with a connection to the lands of the ACT. I pay my respects to Elders past and present, and recognise those with a connection to the lands of the ACT.

I also extend that respect to all First Nations people joining us today.

I wish to acknowledge Alex Claassens, National Secretary of the Rail, Tram & Bus Union, Michael Kaine, National Secretary of the Transport Workers’ Union, and John Grimes, CEO, of the Smart Energy Council. 

And thank you, to John and the team at the Smart Energy Council for bringing the summit together. 

It could not come at a more important time.

Australia’s freight sector is the backbone of our economy. It keeps our supply chains moving, connects our regions to export markets, and underpins the daily lives of millions of Australians. 

Australia has historically been heavily exposed to global fuel markets. 

We import the vast majority of our liquid fuels, and we feel every shock - whether it’s geopolitical tension, conflict, supply chain disruption, or volatility in global oil prices. 

The current conflict in the Middle East has disrupted supply chains across the world and seen fuel prices jump to unprecedented levels.

Higher fuel demand has challenged distribution, particularly in the regions.

For long haul and regional freight operators, these impacts were felt almost immediately - through the increased diesel costs, fuel availability on key routes, and the cost of keeping freight moving over vast distances. 

Fuel security remains a critical priority for this Government.

And we have moved quickly to act.

The Fuel Supply Taskforce, headed by Anthea Harris, is supporting coordination, supply chain resilience and to focusing on forward planning.  

We are strengthening the ACCC’s hand by doubling penalties for companies found guilty of unfairly raising their fuel prices.

And we have moved quickly to protect transport operators, like truck drivers, from rising fuel costs, by introducing legislation to amend the Fair Work Act. 

This means they can renegotiate the cost of fuel in their contracts now, not in six months.

We are bringing additional supply into the market quickly. 

We have released 20 per cent of the baseline Minimum Stockholding Obligation, prioritising supply for regional and remote freight routes. 

We have also temporarily amended fuel quality standards to increase supply of petrol and diesel into the Australian market.

We’ll continue to work closely with industry, and the states and territories, to ensure fuel gets to where it’s needed most.

This is the third major shock to hit the global economy this decade. It has once again shone a spotlight on the need to keep building long term energy resilience. 

That is why decarbonising our transport sector is not just a climate goal. It is actually building economic resilience.

A cleaner transport system is a more resilient transport system. Every step we take to reduce our reliance on imported liquid fuels strengthens our national security, our economic stability, and our ability to keep Australia moving in a crisis.

We are already seeing this shift. The New Vehicle Efficiency Standard is driving more efficient cars into the Australian market - vehicles that use less fuel, cost less to run, and reduce our exposure to global oil prices. 

As more Australians choose electric vehicles, we diversify our energy sources. We move from a system dependent on a single global commodity to one powered increasingly by Australian electricity - much of it renewable, reliable, and produced right here at home.

It gives households and businesses a genuine alternative when global fuel markets become unpredictable.

We are also seeing an uptick in the electrification of heavy vehicles.

Through ARENA and the CEFC, the Government is partnering with the largest heavy vehicle producers and fleet managers in the country – including many here today - to accelerate battery adoption across vehicle fleets. 

Increasingly, we are seeing commercial decisions that acknowledge that over their life, cleaner, greener trucks are cheaper to run and maintain. 

And we are continuing to support this shift.

Like over in Western Australia, where this Government is providing $16.6 million to support the deployment of thirty battery electric vehicle trucks and enabling infrastructure, including fifteen chargers, to Centurion’s largest depot, out near the Perth Airport.

And I am pleased to announce today that through ARENA’s Driving the Nation Program, we are committing $25.3 million to help NewVolt build and run three fast charging hubs for electric trucks.

These hubs, built along Melbourne’s key trucking routes, will incentivise customers to add more than 50 new electrics trucks to their fleets.

Scheduled to open this over the course of this year and the next, the hubs will be able to charge between 50 and 100 heavy electric vehicles. 

I look forward to seeing these as I drive around Victoria. 

And I welcome further proposals from industry to help increase the uptake of electric heavy vehicles, especially to assist small and medium size enterprises. 

But electrification is only part of the story.

We know that long haul road freight, aviation and maritime will continue to rely on liquid fuels for some time.

Low-carbon liquid fuels offer a practical solution as “drop-in” replacements for traditional fuels in existing engines.

Our $1.1 billion Cleaner Fuels Program will support domestic production of low‑carbon alternatives - renewable diesel, advanced biofuels, and sustainable aviation fuels and ensure we can value add to our Australian feedstocks, like tallow, canola, sugar cane.

These fuels can be produced in Australia, from Australian feedstocks, creating Australian jobs. 

They diversify our fuel mix and build sovereign capability that strengthens our resilience.

We are currently working on the final design for this program and expect applications to open mid year.

As demand for goods continues to grow, it’s vital that our roads, rail networks and ports can accommodate increasing freight movements.

While reducing emissions.

A decarbonised transport sector is a more efficient one. More efficient vehicles, cleaner fuels, and smarter logistics reduce overall fuel demand. 

Lower demand means less vulnerability. It means our strategic reserves last longer and freight networks can keep operating even when international supply chains are under pressure.

We are talking about national interest and economic strength. 

We are talking about the security and prosperity of our supply chains, our regions, and our essential services.

It is events like this Freight Forward Summit that can showcase our early adopters and demonstrate the commercial opportunities. 

Our task now is to keep building that future. One where Australia’s freight sector – and all the industries that depend on it - is more efficient, and better protected from global shocks. 

Where our fuel security is strengthened by deliberate, long‑term investment in the technologies and capabilities that will carry us through the decades ahead.

I look forward to productive discussions today. 

Thank you.