- Cook Labor Government supporting industry to reduce costs of transporting milk and perishable food across Western Australia
- Accredited trucks, road trains and milk tankers to be permitted to carry up to an additional 10 tonnes per load
- Changes will help industry more efficiently transport goods to WA families while reducing truck movements and fuel use
- Cook Labor Government's Industry Support Working Group implementing practical solutions to keep WA's economy strong
The Cook Labor Government is supporting freight operators to transport more milk and perishable food across Western Australia to help industry keep fuel costs down.
From today, accredited trucks, road trains and milk tankers will be able to carry up to an additional 10 tonnes per load where conditions allow when transporting milk and perishable goods.
These changes will support the transport of goods to Western Australian families, while helping industry to reduce truck movements and fuel use as operators continue to adapt to rising fuel prices.
It follows changes introduced by the Cook Labor Government last month to allow trucks and road trains transporting fuel, fertiliser, diesel, lime and lime sand to the regions to carry up to an additional 10 tonnes per load.
These measures come after consultation with the transport industry through the Cook Labor Government's Industry Support Working Group, chaired by Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti.
The ministerial taskforce is meeting regularly to explore targeted measures to support WA industries and keep the economy strong through the ongoing impacts of the war in the Middle East.
Earlier this week, the Working Group announced key measures to support the transport and aviation industries to reduce costs.
This included allowing 53.5-metre triple-trailer road trains to travel along Great Northern Highway between Wubin and Muchea, helping to reduce truck movements and improve efficiency along the key freight corridor.
The Cook Labor Government has also confirmed support for airlines operating through the Regional Airfare Zone Cap scheme and on critical intra-regional routes to keep costs down for customers.
The government is extending support for airlines operating in regional WA to ensure fares under the scheme are maintained at current prices, despite rising jet fuel costs.
As stated by Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
"The Cook Labor Government is focused on supporting Western Australian households and industry through this global uncertainty with real, on-the-ground solutions.
"We're allowing accredited trucks and milk tankers to carry up to an extra 10 tonnes of milk and perishable food per load.
"This is a practical step that means farmers will be able to transport local produce to families faster, while using less fuel and reducing costs.
"Today's announcement is another measure from the Cook Labor Government's Industry Support Working Group to keep our State moving and economy strong."
As stated by Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis:
"This decision follows engagement with industry and dairy processors about how our government can provide support and confidence during this challenging period.
"Western Australians consume around 1 million litres of WA produced milk and milk products daily, and we want to ensure WA families can continue to access milk at an affordable level.
"Today's announcement by the Cook Labor Government builds on the work of the Industry Support Working Group, which has already taken action to support our agriculture sector by introducing measures that improve efficiency and reduce fuel use across WA's freight network."
