Home›Questions on Notice›QoN 1755

❓ A WA parliamentary question scrutinising the Minister for Transport regarding the Fremantle Traffic Bridge closure's impact on freight, particularly agricultural exports, and the government's response. The Minister's response defends current policies and ongoing engagement.

AnsweredQoN 1755Legislative Assembly

Asked

17 February 2026

Member

Mr Lachlan Hunter

Portfolio

Transport

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the closure of Fremantle Traffic Bridge and I ask: (a) when was the Fremantle Traffic Bridge closure first identified as a certainty by the Department of Transport or Main Roads WA; (b) on what date was the Minister first formally briefed on the freight and supply chain impacts of the Fremantle Traffic Bridge closure ; (c) What modelling was undertaken by the Department or Main Roads WA to assess the impact of the bridge closure on container freight movements to and from Fremantle Port; (d) Did this modelling include the impact on agricultural exporters, including grain and containerised bulk commodities: (i) if so, please table that modelling; and (ii) if not, why was agricultural export freight not specifically modelled; (e) What percentage of container freight to and from Fremantle Port currently moves by road; (f) What percentage of container freight to and from Fremantle Port currently moves by rail; (g) What advice has the Minister received regarding the maximum realistic rail share during the bridge closure period; (h) Is the Minister aware that even optimistic projections place rail at no more than approximately 30 per cent of container movements; (i) Has the Department received advice from the Container Transport Alliance Australia (CTAA), Demeter Grains, Boxx Logistics or similar operators regarding the insufficiency of rail capacity: (i) On what dates were representations from CTAA received; (ii) On what dates were representations from Demeter Grains received ; (iii) On what dates were representations from Boxx Logistics received; and (iv) Were any of these representations rejected without written response; (j) Has the Minister personally met with CTAA representatives regarding the bridge closure : (i) if not, why not; (k) Has the Minister personally met with affected agricultural exporters: (i) if not, why not; (l) What assessment has been made of the economic impact of denying loaded 40/40 container access during the bridge closure; (m) Has the Department quantified the additional number of truck movements required when restricting vehicles to three loaded TEUs: (i) if so, please provide those figures; and (ii) if not, why was this not calculated; (n) Is the Minister aware that allowing 40/40 combinations would reduce truck movements by up to 50 per cent for certain exporters; (o) Has Main Roads WA provided advice on whether PBS-approved 40/40 vehicles meet safety standards; (p) Has any safety assessment concluded that PBS-approved 40/40 vehicles are unsafe: (i) if so, please table that assessment; and (ii) if not, on what basis has access been denied; (q) Has Main Roads WA previously approved PBS-certified 40/40 vehicles to operate within the Fremantle Port precinct: (i) if yes, why are those same vehicles prohibited from completing the final access routes to the port; (r) Has the Department considered the increased congestion, emissions and driver fatigue caused by requiring more truck movements: (i) if so, please table that analysis; and (ii) if not, why was this not considered; (s) Has the Minister sought advice from Fremantle Ports on the operational impacts of denying 40/40 access; (t) What advice was received from Fremantle Ports; (u) Has the Minister considered declaring the bridge closure a “force majeure” freight event: (i) if not, why not; (v) What criteria does the Government use to determine a force majeure freight response; (w) Has the Minister approved any temporary freight access relaxations in other contexts: (i) If so, why has the same approach not been applied here; (x) What is the estimated impact of the current restrictions on WA agricultural export competitiveness; (y) Has the Minister been advised of missed sailings attributable to freight access constraints; (z) How many containers have missed scheduled sailings as a result of current access restrictions; (aa) Has the Minister been advised of increased costs being passed back to growers: (i) If so, what action has been taken; (bb) Has the Minister consulted with the Minister for Agriculture on the impacts to grain exporters: (i) if not, why not; (cc) Has the Government considered the impact on WA’s reputation as a reliable exporter; (dd) What contingency planning was undertaken before confirming the bridge closure dates; (ee) Why were freight access arrangements not resolved prior to the closure being announced; (ff) Has the Minister directed Main Roads WA to prepare a temporary access trial for 40/40 PBS vehicles: (i) if not, why not; (gg) What monitoring or compliance mechanisms would be required to support a temporary 40/40 trial: (i) Have these mechanisms been costed: (A) if so, what is the cost; and (B) if not, why not; and (hh) Has the Government considered that denying 40/40 access may increase overall road wear due to increased truck movements: (i) Was this factor assessed ; (ii) Has the Minister received legal advice on liability risks arising from increased congestion and fatigue exposure; and (jj) Will the Minister now commit to an urgent, time-limited trial of PBS-approved 40/40 access during the Fremantle Traffic Bridge closure?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered

17 March 2026

Responded by

Minister for Transport

Response time

9 days

(a)-(jj) Government policies, including the rail subsidy and limiting heavy container vehicles to carrying three loaded twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), have enabled Western Australia to achieve the highest rail share in the country which, in 2024-25, averaged 26.6% and saved 141,000 one-way truck movements.
Since the closure of the Fremantle Traffic Bridge, port operations and the associated freight road network continue to function effectively.
Government continues to maintain regular engagement with industry and port operators to ensure the freight network and port operates optimally.

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