Toll Group on the ADM Podcast: Utilising commercial logistic networks and providers to improve Defence resilience

Podcast highlights featuring Steve Roughsedge, Senior Vice President of Theatre Supply Chain at Toll Group

Q: What does the Defence Theatre Logistics contract cover?

A: The program positions Toll as a strategic logistics partner to the ADF. Our responsibilities include:

• Operating all ADF warehouses across Australia
• Connecting bases and warehouses through national road and rail networks
• Supporting ADF operations with equipment, supplies, and services
• Operating across ~90 sites in 51 locations nationwide

Given today’s geostrategic uncertainty, the program also allows Toll to support Defence with surge capacity - whether responding to humanitarian events, exercises, or operational contingencies.

Q: Is Toll delivering the capability alone or with partners?

A: The core warehousing and program delivery will be handled by Toll personnel.
For distribution, Toll will lead but also work with partner carriers where they already have efficient local networks. It doesn’t make sense to replicate capability that already exists, so we’ll leverage the best of the market where appropriate.

Q: Is the work purely Australia-based, or does it extend overseas?

A: While the primary scope is domestic, the program allows for international support wherever the ADF requires it. This could involve warehousing, distribution, fuel supply, or logistics support to ships and operations abroad. In short: Australia first, but with the ability to deploy regionally.

Q: What experience does Toll bring to Defence logistics?

A: Toll has been supporting Defence for 20–25 years, including:

• Full logistics support for ADF operations in East Timor
• Support to the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands
• Fuel and logistics operations for the UN in Central Africa, supporting 16,000 troops and 90 aircraft
• A long history of delivering surge logistics in remote and challenging environments

This blend of commercial scale and military-grade expeditionary logistics makes Toll uniquely positioned for the program.

Q: How does Toll support Defence’s push for resilience in northern Australia?

A: Northern Australia already hosts one of the largest logistics infrastructures in the world, driven primarily by the resources sector. Rather than Defence building new facilities, which would take years and enormous investment, it makes sense to leverage this existing commercial ecosystem.
Toll is deeply embedded across the north and well-positioned to help Defence strengthen resilience, readiness, and interoperability across the Indo-Pacific.

Q: What about operations in the broader region, such as Subic Bay?

A: Toll has recently opened an office in Subic Bay, building on our strong Indo-Pacific presence. Subic is strategically significant and offers potential for supporting Defence partners operating in the region. With our pedigree, capability, and footprint, we’re prepared to assist where required.

Q: How does Toll manage the security and clearance requirements of Defence work?

A: Toll is a Defence Industry Security Program (DISP) member and can sponsor security clearances. We’ve operated with Defence-level security requirements for many years, so this is familiar territory. For higher-level clearances, Defence provides sponsorship as needed.

Q: Are other countries showing interest in Toll’s Defence logistics model?

A: Yes. Many nations are now recognising the benefits of outsourcing logistics to commercial partners. Some countries have never outsourced; others outsource more than the ADF does. Toll is already exploring opportunities in the US, UK, and across the region, where our model and experience resonate strongly.

Q: How does Toll navigate differences between allied nations’ logistics systems?

A: Australia and the UK have similar approaches to Defence contracting. The US model is quite different, and we’re adapting our posture to align more closely with US requirements over the next 12 months. Understanding each nation’s systems – and being flexible – is key to supporting allied operations.

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Listen to the full episode here.