DAY two of the Ports Australia Biennial Conference in Hobart explored supply-chain efficiency, future energy and offshore wind.

The conference wraps up today (31 October) with the last of a series of presentations around the current and future industry landscape.

Senator Bridget McKenzie, federal shadow minister for infrastructure and transport, opened the day’s discussions with an address on the need for resilience and self-sufficiency in maritime.

She put a spotlight on Australia’s regional ports.

“I really appreciate your unique capabilities opportunities and challenges, and I think each of you are very different,” she said.

“But it’s a rich tapestry. Fifty-seven per cent of marine transport professionals live outside capital cities, which is fantastic, and in such a critical component of our regional capitals.

“I don’t want to be the most urbanised nation in the world, with 80% of our population living in three places. I want to see a country full of big regional capitals, and to do that, you need great employment opportunities and connections to the globe, which ports provide.”

Ports Australia CEO Mike Gallacher unpacked the organisation’s new State of Trade report, released in September as a snapshot of the role Australian ports play in the nation’s economy, security and workforce.

The report was developed in response to a stronger nation-wide focus on the role the ports sector.

“Ports aren’t static. They’re constantly re-investing, looking for new ways to expand business, looking for new ways to expand business, looking for new ways to make us more efficient, to remain competitive nationally and globally,” Mr Gallacher said.

He said both sides of politics are now interested in the ports sector and want to be part of the journey.

“Every opportunity we have to talk to them, let them know that nothing’s broken; that we are making the investments that we are doing what we have to do to keep Australia competitive.

“This will not be the only national report you’ll see from us …  we are looking at now making this a permanent feature going forward.”

Day two of the conference also looked at maximising Australia’s supply-chain efficiency, future energy and ports, and the experience and skills required for offshore wind developments.

Further coverage of the Ports Australia Biennial Conference will appear in the DCN magazine.