The Carroll Labor Government is backing our freight industry by working closely to boost efficiency across the supply chain and keep goods moving through the Port of Melbourne.
Minister for Ports and Freight Melissa Horne today released the latest Container Logistics Chain Study, providing a clearer picture of how Victoria's freight system operates to support future growth.
Victoria is Australia's freight and logistics capital and this study shows just that.
Our freight task continues to grow with containers passing through the Port of Melbourne increasing by 14.7 per cent since 2019.
In 2024, 3.4 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEU) moved through the Port, up from 2.96 million in 2019.
Import containers are being collected quicker, with almost 70 per cent collected within two days of becoming available and an average collection time of 36 hours - getting goods moving to Victorians sooner, and shelves stocked faster at grocery stores.
Victoria's largest exports were led by food and livestock, which total more than 25 per cent of export container volumes.
Melbourne's west continues to play a critical role in the state's freight network, with more than 40 per cent of metropolitan import containers destined for major logistics hubs in Laverton, Truganina and Derrimut.
That's why Labor is reducing inner-west congestion with the opening of the West Gate Tunnel, redeveloping the former Melbourne Market Site opposite the Port, and establishing No Truck Zones in the inner west.
The study highlights the importance of the Victorian Rail Freight Plan, which aims to help move containers to and from the Port of Melbourne across Victoria - taking trucks off roads, cutting emissions and costs for businesses.
The Labor Government has invested almost $600 million in Victoria's regional rail freight network, supporting heavier axle loads, increased speeds, improved reliability, new and extended passing loops and increased capacity on key rail freight routes.
Jess Wilson's Liberal-One Nation Coalition will cut essential services including how we move goods across the state through their $40 billion cuts plan - just like Jeff Kennett selling off the rail freight network.
To view the Container Logistics Chain Study visit, vic.gov.au/about-victorias-commercial-ports.
As stated by Minister for Ports and Freight Melissa Horne
"This study will help us make better, long-term decisions about how we move goods across the state and ensure we maintain our status as Australia's freight and logistics capital."
"Victoria handles more than a third of the country's container trade and contributes $36 billion to Gross State Product annually. These insights will help us support our freight workforce of 260,000 who keep our supply chains moving every day.''
As stated by Port of Melbourne CEO Saul Cannon
"This report will help industry and government work together to improve the efficiency and resilience of Victoria's supply chain."
