Dave MacIntyre investigates the long term implications for flood-hit Australia’’s coal export crisis.

The speed with which the inland supply chain of rail lines and roads recovers is the key to how Queensland’s ports will rise from the aftermath of flooding that devastated the Australian state over December and January.

Getting the rail tracks fixed, and the coal flowing freely to ports, is the first priority. Longer term, the eye will be on whether contractual relationships between Australian coal exporters and Asian buyers are compromised.