Maritime Strategic Fleet Taskforce

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On 20 October 2022, the Australian Government established a Strategic Fleet Taskforce to advise Government on the creation of a Maritime Strategic Fleet that will strengthen our economic sovereignty and support improved national security outcomes. The fleet will comprise vessels that are Australian flagged and Australian crewed.

The Taskforce is supported in their work by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts who provide the secretariat for the Taskforce.

In late 2022, the Taskforce ran a formal consultation process with a broad range of stakeholders to help inform the development of high-level strategic objectives for the fleet. Details of this consultation process are available on our consultation page Have Your Say below.

Statement from the Taskforce – Open Invitation to Contribute

On behalf of the Australian Government's Strategic Fleet Taskforce, we wish to thank all the organisations and individuals who participated in the strategic fleet consultation period which ran from 16 November to 7 December 2022. This broad consultation has informed the Taskforce's work to date and will continue to assist in the preparation of advice the Taskforce provides to the Government on how best to deliver its commitment to establish a strategic maritime fleet of up to 12 Australian flagged and crewed vessels.

The Taskforce has commenced Phase Two of its work, and is required to present its final report to Government by 30 June 2023.

As part of the Phase Two work currently underway, the Taskforce is extending an open invitation for stakeholders to provide proposals, options or ideas for the establishment of the strategic fleet, and how it may be best operationalised. Information provided by stakeholders will inform options the Taskforce puts forward to the Government. While not wishing to constrain your comments, the Taskforce would particularly value your views on:

• the composition of a strategic fleet of 12 ships and the mix of ship types and trades where ships designated as strategic fleet ships could operate commercially
• possible ways the strategic fleet could be established and operate (including commercial and contractual arrangements)
• types and levels of government assistance that might be required to incentivise the transition to Australian ships and crewing, and
• whether, and to what extent the Coastal Trading (Revitalising Australian Shipping) Act 2012 or any other legislation might need amending to support or facilitate a strategic fleet and ensure it is an enduring feature of Australia's sea freight transportation system.

If you wish to participate in this consultation process, please email your input to the Taskforce consultation inbox at SFConsultation@infrastructure.gov.au. There is no deadline for providing input but prompt advice will provide the Taskforce with more time for it to be considered.

We anticipate that as Phase Two work progresses, the Taskforce will directly reach out to some stakeholders to further discuss their feedback.

The Taskforce is guided by a Terms of Reference, and will guide the Government on how to establish Australia's fleet as quickly as possible. It will also provide advice on what legislative or regulatory reforms are necessary to support the Strategic Fleet and Australian shipping.

Thank you again for your participation.

Previous consultation

• Have Your Say