Joint Communique

13 October 2006, Canberra

Australian, State and Territory Transport Ministers and the President of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) met in Canberra on Friday 13 October 2006 to consider a range of important national transport issues.

PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION INQUIRY INTO ROAD AND RAIL FREIGHT INFRASTRUCTURE PRICING

Ministers were briefed by the Chair of the Productivity Commission, Gary Banks, on the Commission's discussion draft report on road and rail infrastructure pricing. Ministers noted that the draft raises significant issues for Governments to consider. They encourage interested members of the public and the transport industry to examine the report closely and to provide feedback to the Productivity Commission. Ministers will further discuss the issues involved following the Commonwealth of Australian Government's (COAG) consideration of the Commission's final report early in 2007. Ministers agreed that the National Transport Commission (NTC) would commence work on a new heavy vehicle pricing determination having regard to the Productivity Commission's final report and the outcomes of the COAG consideration of the report.

NATIONAL ROAD SAFETY ACTION PLAN 2007 - 2008

Transport Ministers agreed the adoption of a new two-year National Road Safety Action Plan for 2007 and 2008. The plan is the fourth in a series of biennial action plans supporting the National Road Safety Strategy 2001-2010 and sets out key road safety initiatives needed to achieve a major reduction in the national road death rate over the next two years.

The National Road Safety Strategy 2001-2010 aims to reduce the national road death rate by 40 per cent over the decade - from 9.3 to no more than 5.6 deaths per 100,000 people by the end of 2010.

The 2007-2008 Action Plan focuses on the implementation of a safe system approach. This calls for the application of complementary measures addressing road user behaviour, roads and vehicle safety, including expanded road-based safety treatments and improved speed management initiatives.

Ministers sought further advice from officials at their next meeting on key priority actions to catch up to the fatality rate target.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL

Following on from its June meeting in which Transport Ministers noted the road safety benefits of Electronic Stability Control, ATC discussed the rapid significant market penetration of the technology. Ministers were advised that vehicles fitted with Electronic Stability Control accounted for 20% of all sales in the first half of the year and that this was projected to reach 40% by the middle of next year.

Ministers strongly encourage all motor vehicle manufacturers to install ESC in new vehicles.

Ministers agreed that the Australian Government should examine the potential for the technology to be required under Australian Design Rules for new vehicles.

HEAVY VEHICLE PRODUCTIVITY REFORM

As part of the ongoing productivity reforms endorsed by COAG in February 2006 ATC agreed a series of initiatives to improve the efficiency and productivity of heavy road vehicles.

Performance Based Standards for Heavy Vehicles

Ministers agreed that in future "performance based" standards (PBS) will apply to more productive and safer heavy vehicle designs. These will permit a greater range of heavy vehicles to access the road network. Under PBS, vehicles operating in combination will be assessed on "what the vehicle can do" as an alternative to prescriptive rules which govern "what the vehicle looks like".

A national regulatory panel will establish a single point of contact for vehicle operators and will be charged with assessing vehicle characteristics for conformance against the technical standards. If the vehicle meets the PBS standards then decisions will be mutually recognised by governments and access will be provided within a statutory timeframe. Individual States and Territories however will retain the right to determine the level of access to their road systems.

Ministers also requested that the NTC, in consultation with the States and Territories and Local Government, complete road classification guidelines, coordinate mapping of the PBS freight network and finalise infrastructure standards.

The final national package, a major COAG productivity reform, will be presented to the ATC for approval in April 2007.

B-Triple Network

To underpin a further key productivity reform agreed by COAG in February 2006, Ministers endorsed a possible limited network for B-triple vehicle operation.

To better define the infrastructure and regulatory requirements to make the network available Ministers requested that the NTC work with governments to identify infrastructure needs, costings and constraints by April 2007. A 'blueprint' B-triple vehicle design will be also assessed against performance standards to ensure safety and community amenity are not compromised.

Expanded utilisation of quad-axle vehicles

Ministers endorsed the development of a national policy for the use of quad axle groups on heavy vehicles and asked that a package be presented for their consideration before the end of 2006. This package will be developed utilising work undertaken by the Queensland Government to facilitate movement of freight in Brisbane, and when implemented will reduce the number of trucks needed to carry heavy containers and loads.

Treatment of overloaded axles

To address concerns raised by industry as a result of operators being penalised for axles being overloaded due to shifting loads Ministers approved the implementation of a nationally consistent 'reasonable steps' defence for minor risk category axle overloads by the end of 2007.

Increased mass allowance for front axles

Ministers agreed a 500kg increase in steer axle mass for heavy vehicles above 15 tonne gross mass which are fitted with cleaner (ADR80/01 (Euro 4)) engines, safer (UNECE 93) front underrun protection systems and stronger (UNECE 29) cabs. The reform ensures heavy vehicles featuring the latest safety and environmental technology are not disadvantaged by their higher tare weight. This approval will maintain the heavy vehicle fleets productivity without reducing the incentive for the introduction of improved technology.

HEAVY VEHICLE DRIVER FATIGUE POLICY PACKAGE

ATC discussed the results of consultation undertaken by the National Transport Commission on the Heavy Vehicle Driver Fatigue reform. The package aims to provide improved road safety for drivers, the industry and community, as well as increased productivity in return for higher standards of driver fatigue risk management. Ministers indicated overall support for a national approach to managing fatigue.

Ministers asked that the final policy package and regulations be circulated by the end of 2006 for out-of-session voting.

In discussing the fatigue package Transport Ministers noted the importance of ensuring that there was sufficient provision of rest areas for heavy vehicles and committed their jurisdictions to finalising the audit of rest areas required by COAG by 30 June 2007 and to the construction of adequate rest areas to national standards.

RAIL SAFETY REFORM

In an important development, Australian Transport Ministers noted NTC advice that the Model Rail Safety Legislation Package is on track for implementation by all Australian jurisdictions by June 2007. To continue the progress Ministers agreed to complete the vote on the associated rail safety regulations before the end of 2006. Once the package and its associated regulations and standards are in place there will be the basis, for the first time, for a nationally consistent regulatory framework within Australia. This will represent a significant reform outcome.

MARITIME PEST INCURSIONS - NATIONAL SYSTEM FOR PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT

Australian Transport Ministers agreed in principle a Ballast Water Management Framework, noting that the issue would also be considered by the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council in November. The framework will establish a single point of contact for the management of ballast water in the Australian maritime zone and provide a coordinated response between jurisdictions.

WHEELCHAIR ACCESS ON AIRLINES

ATC Ministers agreed that officials examine and report back to ATC on the current wheelchair carriage policies of airlines to determine if they are consistent with the principle of equal access to transport for people with disabilities.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT - TAX CONCESSIONS FOR USERS

Ministers discussed a report provided by NSW and agreed to forward to the Council of Treasurers.

The ATC meeting was attended by:

Last Updated: 20 October, 2006.