Statement Regarding Inland Rail

Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd (PBPL), together with many of our customers and industry stakeholders, has long advocated for a dedicated freight rail connection to the Port and the broader supply chain benefits that Inland Rail was expected to deliver.

Today, the Federal Government announced that the current Inland Rail project will be "consolidated", with construction to be completed only between Beveridge, Victoria, and Parkes, New South Wales, by the end of 2027.

As part of this decision, the proposed Inland Rail sections north of Parkes in New South Wales, as well as the Queensland stages between the Queensland border, Gowrie and Ebenezer, will not proceed.

While we acknowledge the Government's announcement, this outcome is deeply disappointing. It represents a significant reduction in planned rail infrastructure investment in Queensland and is likely to have a substantial impact on regional communities and freight networks that were expected to benefit from the project.

Regardless of the future of Inland Rail, the need to move more freight from road to rail remains critical. PBPL continues to believe that investment in efficient, reliable freight rail infrastructure is essential to improving supply chain productivity, reducing congestion, supporting regional economies, and delivering long-term environmental benefits. We urge all levels of government to work collaboratively with industry to advance these objectives.

PBPL has advocated strongly for this outcome over many years in partnership with our customers, stakeholders and the regional communities we serve, and we remain committed to continuing that advocacy.

We note the Federal Government's announcement of a new $55 million program aimed at encouraging greater use of rail and coastal shipping for freight movements. We also welcome the additional investment in the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) to improve the productivity, resilience and reliability of Australia's freight rail network.

We look forward to reviewing the details of these initiatives following the release of the Federal Budget and understanding how they will support the future growth and efficiency of Australia's freight network.

PBPL thanks its customers, partners and stakeholders for their ongoing support and engagement on this important issue, and for their continued contribution to the growth and development of the Port of Brisbane.