News / Australia subsidises forwarders to pool shipments to get cargo in the air

Australian freight forwarders need to work together to consolidate cargo and “defend” the country’s agricultural exports.

The government’s new International Freight Assistance Mechanism (IFAM), launched three weeks ago, has earmarked A$110m (US$70m) to subsidise cargo export flights, following an unprecedented 91% drop in capacity since the coronavirus pandemic began.

In a briefing with forwarders on Tuesday, Michael Byrne, former MD of Toll Group and now IFAM coordinator general, said this meant the only way to uplift cargo was to pool shipments.

“There are ...