Dominic Perrottet to install a Supply Chain Commissioner if Coalition win election

Dominic Perrottet has pledged to create a powerful new role if he is re-elected, one he says will drive down the cost of living for families across NSW.

A powerful Supply Chain Commissioner will work to make it easier for groceries to get from farms into supermarkets in a bid to drive down prices in the shopping trolley if Premier Dominic Perrottet wins the March election.

The Daily Telegraph can also reveal that if re-elected, the Coalition will slash heavy vehicle course fees for thousands of drivers to get more trucks on the road.

The Supply Chain Commissioner would immediately haul in industry and bureaucrats for a “freight and logistics task force” to drive down transport costs. Major supermarkets would be expected to pass any savings identified onto customers.

The commissioner would also be tasked with driving reform on packaging in a bid for national consistency to reduce costs, and work to deliver the Coalition’s existing $300 million ‘Fast Tracking Freight’ program to tackle pinch points on the network.

The announcement comes ahead of a cost of living blitz from Mr Perrottet, who is set to focus the Coalition’s re-election campaign on the number one issue facing voters.

Premier Dominic Perrottet has pledged to make it easier for truck drivers to get licences to cut down on costs. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“We will move quickly to appoint a new Supply Chain Commissioner who will be specifically tasked with finding innovative ways to unblock our supply chains and ensure families get the best deal at the checkout,” he told the Telegraph.

“By tackling our supply chain issues head on, we will provide long term relief to families feeling the pinch from rising inflation,” he said.

The Coalition has pledged to slash the cost of heavy vehicle licence courses for up to 50 per cent for thousands of people under 30.

Mr Perrottet will focus his attention on delivering cost of living relief in coming days. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Up to 7,000 drivers under 30 will save up to $1,000 on course fees, in a move expected to get up to 2,000 new truckies on the road and allow 5,000 existing truck drivers to drive bigger rigs.

Regional Transport Minister Sam Farraway said boosting the number of truckies will help get produce from farms and factories to supermarket shelves quicker, meaning lower costs for producers and lower prices for families.

“We know the industry is feeling the pressure from worker and skills shortages especially in our regions, which is in turn putting pressure on our freight and logistics lines and driving up prices,” Mr Farraway said.

“Slashing the cost of heavy vehicle licences courses by up to 50 per cent for people under the age of 30 will allow these young drivers to more easily upskill and upgrade to a Multi Combination licence, which will allow them to drive bigger trucks like road trains and B-doubles, and will help tackle driver shortages,” he said.

Visiting Goulburn on Wednesday to announce a new travel card for apprentices and trainees, Mr Perrottet acknowledged hip pocket pain was the number one issue for voters across the state.

Dominic Perrottet in Goulburn on Wednesday Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Locals in the towns of Goulburn and Moss Vale identified soaring electricity, petrol and produce prices as a key concern yesterday.

Carol Cabot, a store hand at the Something Special gift shop visited by Mr Perrottet and Goulburn MP Wendy Tuckerman, said spiralling costs had hit local businesses.

“With the increase in cost of living, people just don’t seem to have the money to buy the little luxury items like what we sell,” she told The Telegraph.

The story was similar for Karen Edwards and Neil Ward, husband and wife owners of Moss Vale home goods shop Bowerbird on Argyle.

“The biggest effect on us is interest rates – people are more reluctant to spend larger amounts of money on furniture, and that’s understandable,” Mr Ward said.

Down the road at Bernie’s Diner, owner Ioannis Benardos, said soaring costs were hitting his cafe.

“For a business owner the biggest issue is very simple – inflation and trying to keep our prices at a price point that customers are used to,” he said.

“I want the next government to understand what it takes to run a small business profitably.”

Mr Perrottet said that his government would use the NSW budget to help families with their own.

“We’re doing everything we can with our long term economic plan to provide the financial support, not just to deal with the short term pressures but also setting communities like Goulburn up for long term economic security in the future,” he said.