About the Australian Transport Council

ABOUT US

• Scope/Objectives
• Composition 
• Chairing Arrangements 
• Frequency of Meetings
• Associated meetings of Officials
• Secretariat Arrangements 
• Australian transport: making it work for everyone
• Secretariat 
• Organisation Chart

Scope/Objectives

The Australian Transport Council (ATC) was established in June 1993, subsuming the functions of the Australian Transport Advisory Council (ATAC).

It provides a forum for Commonwealth, State, Territory and New Zealand Ministers to consult and provide advice to governments on the co-ordination and integration of all transport and road policy issues.

ATCs decision making processes involve both a consensus model for general issues, and a voting model (prescribed in the NTC Act) for National Transport Commission (NTC) issues.

Composition

ATC comprises Commonwealth, State, Territory and New Zealand Ministers responsible for transport, roads and marine and ports issues. The Papua-New Guinea Minister responsible for transport matters and the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) have formal observer status on the Council.

Chairing Arrangements

Chairing responsibility resides with the Commonwealth.

Frequency of Meetings

ATC meetings are generally held bi-annually with venues rotating among the States, Territories and New Zealand.

Out-of-session processes are also used to progress issues through the Council.

Associated Meetings of Officials

ATC supported by the Standing Committee on Transport (SCOT) comprising a nominee of each ATC Minister, generally at Head of Department/Agency level. SCOT is supported by a formal committee structure which provides advice on a range of policy and technical matters. The committee structure is reviewed by the Council on a regular basis.

The NTC was established as an independent body to provide advice to Council.

Secretariat Arrangements

The Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government provides secretariat support for ATC and its structure. The contact is:

Secretary
Australian Transport Council
GPO Box 594
CANBERRA ACT 2601

or

Secretary
Australian Transport Council
Level 2, 111 Alinga Street
Canberra  ACT  2601

Telephone: (02) 6274 7462
Mobile: 0403 000 980
Facsimile: (02) 6274 8090

Email: atc@infrastructure.gov.au

Australian transport: making it work for everyone

It is vital that Australia has a transport system that is efficient, safe, sustainable and competitive.

To make sure it stays that way, Commonwealth, State and Territory representatives work together as the Australian Transport Council (ATC) to coordinate all the transport and road safety policy issues across Australia

Its members understand that, for Australia to be a productive nation with a good quality of life and equity for everyone, transport must be effective. It must be seamless between road, rail, air and sea - and between domestic and international transport.

The ATC is made up of ministers from the Commonwealth, State, Territory and New Zealand who are responsible for transport matters. The Australian Local Government Association and Papua-New Guineas responsible transport minister also have formal observer status on the Council.

The Commonwealth Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government is responsible for chairing the Council.

The ATC generally meets twice a year with venues rotating between member jurisdictions. It follows a consensus decision-making model for general issues and a prescribed voting model for National Transport Commission (NTC) issues. Matters are also progressed through out-of-session processes.

The Standing Committee on Transport (SCOT) supports the ATC with a nominee of each ATC Minister, who is generally head of Department or agency level. SCOT is supported by a formal committee structure that provides advice on a range of policy and technical matters. The NTC also provides advice to the Council.

Last Updated: 24 October, 2008.