RWTA Updates to Ministers today
The Australian Cold Chain has always been a dynamic sector; never more true than during a pandemic.
The RWTA has been called this morning by State and Federal Departments and their Ministers to comment on the effects of imposed restrictions on the cold chain and associated logistics in Australia leading up to what has been an extension to Sunday midnight.
I wanted to share with you what the RWTA has shared in support of your companies.
The Refrigerated Warehouse and Transport Association is the preeminent representative of the Australian Cold Chain.
The Cold Storage industry must not be confused with warehousing. We are the highly perishable food commodity sector.
These Refrigerated Warehouses and Transport companies are a critical essential service for the Australian Community; they ensure Confidence in Food Quality, Every Day.
During this time of incremental increased pressure during level 4 lockdown in Victoria, the RWTA needs to be able to assure the public that the Australian Cold Chain continues to provide safe food to the community.
These professionals adhere to strict COVID plans that are in place to ensure the safety of their workers and the general public.
The products that our sector continue to provide as a mandatory part of the cold chain to the likes of Woolworths, Coles, ALDI etc are of a highly perishable nature.
Fresh milk, pre-prepared meals, sandwiches etc that require QUICK TURNAROUND, providing hospitals and aged care homes, retail outlets and everywhere people require fresh food are that which are facilitated through this essential service, daily.
Any reduction in the ability to function at expected capacity will have an exponential impact on community living standards, immediately impacting on SAFE FOOD TO THE COMMUNITY.
The communication updates from the Government have been hard to find and confusing. Our sector continues to function with the greatest of respect to the high-risk COVID plans in place to maintain increased demand.
Any reduction of the Australian Cold Chain’s ability to function at peak output will most certainly have catastrophic effects on the Victorian and wider community.
The RWTA request clear and reasonable decisions to be made by the Government to avoid catastrophic disruption to the Victorian public and to assist the greater cold chain in the supply of these high risk commodities.
The wider supply chain is unable to cope presently; prior to any restrictions being put in place.
It is being reported today from media outlets that already, without restrictions being put in place, that one in three people are unable to purchase what they need.
Reduce then, the ability to supply from Sunday, expect exponential increase in anxiety and panic buying.
Most likely every person that goes shopping to be unable to get what they want.Costco had media coverage yesterday showing a 200m cue outside the store at Docklands.
By restricting aspects of the local supply chain will severely effect other states.
For instance, if companies are affected, like SIMPLOT (the single largest hub and supplier for food production and perishable items in Australia) this will impose higher demands on other States and expand panic buying all over Australia potentially.
In summary, restricting manufacturers and the Australian Cold Chain in their ability to function at the optimum requirement and functionality will aggressively increase panic buying potentially in multiple states of Australia.
* Thanks must go to Craig Bowyer, Lineage Logistics for his advice this morning*