South Australian Freight Conference 2025

The 2025 SA Freight Council Conference, held on 16 October at SkyCity Adelaide, gathered key stakeholders from across South Australia’s freight and logistics sector under the theme “The State of Freight.” The event provided a dynamic platform for collaboration, innovation, and strategic dialogue on the future of freight in the region, and the importance of productivity in driving South Australia’s economic growth.

Central to the discussions were sector-wide challenges such as an aging workforce, the evolving dynamics between public and private employment models, and critical skill shortages in highly specialised roles. These conversations are part of a broader effort to ensure sustainable workforce planning and operational resilience across the state’s freight and logistics landscape.

Representing the four Transport Supply Chain ISA sectors, Carly Grigg highlighted the importance of ISA roles and the key projects propelling the sectors forward. Her insights reinforced the value of cross-sector collaboration in addressing workforce and infrastructure challenges.

In attendance was the newly appointed Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Emily Bourke, who shared personal reflections on her connection to the logistics sector. Her remarks underscored the government’s commitment to supporting innovation and investment in freight and transport.

A standout presentation came from Sari Mackay of KPMG, who delivered a compelling, data-driven analysis on supply chain disruption and mitigation. Her findings, particularly that 78% of organisations fear they cannot keep pace with change, resonated strongly with attendees navigating the rapid evolution of AI and emerging technologies.

Discussions throughout the event underscored the critical importance of worker and community safety, and sparked debate on which transport mode delivers the greatest economic value to South Australia. Leaders from road, rail, aviation, and maritime sectors shared perspectives on productivity, resilience, and the future of freight infrastructure.