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National Heavy Vehicle Regulator CEO, Sal Petroccitto.
AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE HELD 20-22 MARCH NEAR PHILLIP ISLAND IN VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA, WAS THEMED AROUND ATTAINING POST PANDEMIC SUPPLY CHAIN CERTAINTY AND SUCCESSFULLY TACKLED A BROAD RANGE OF TOPICAL INDUSTRY ISSUES HEAD-ON.
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he Victorian Transport Association (VTA) hosted a record number of 190 delegates at its state conference earlier this year. Speakers included regulators, government and other key stakeholders and they engaged in a series of informative keynote presentations and panel discussions covering everything from infrastructure, industrial relations, taxation, training and education, safety and technology. For Australian heavy vehicle operators and transport businesses, higher fuel costs and rising inflation and interest rates came under the gun at the VTA State Conference 2022. VTA CEO, Peter Anderson, welcomed delegates with remarks that acknowledged how operators and the transport industry had been rocked by successive challenges, with conflict in Eastern Europe adding to the pressure. “Labour shortages, disruptions to fuel and engine additives, difficulties obtaining parts for servicing vehicles, are just a few of the supply chain difficulties that have created such uncertainty in the business and the general community,” Anderson said. “And when you factor in inflation and the likelihood of interest rates going up, higher costs of doing business just adds to the uncertainty and the
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stresses it creates on budgets for businesses and consumers.” Anderson said the sad irony is that the economy was edging towards a post pandemic recovery of sorts when tensions began flaring in Eastern Europe. “Russia’s war with Ukraine is adding to supply chain uncertainty, with sanctions creating supply issues on commodities the world economy needs,” he said. “Reduced supply is leading to higher prices for most goods and services, prompting businesses to make difficult decisions to remain sustainable.” The recent conflict in Ukraine also exacerbated issues with the supply chain and concerns about the rising costs of fuel. “As an industry group, our phones are
