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23 May 1997Transport Ministers of the Federal, State and Territory governments met in Cairns today as the Australian Transport Council (ATC), which incorporates the Ministerial Council for Road Transport (MCRT). The meeting was hosted by the Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads, the Honourable Vaughan Johnson, MLA and chaired by the Tasmanian Minister for Transport, the Honourable John Cleary, MHA. ROAD SAFETY PACKAGEMinisters endorsed a National Road Safety Package to put more effort towards reducing the level of road trauma in Australia. While there have been significant gains in reducing the road toll over the last decade, on a national basis, road toll rates have remained relatively static since 1992. The Package outlines initiatives which have been identified as those most likely to deliver significant benefits to the community through an immediate and coordinated national effort. The Package is also designed to provide the foundation for shaping community attitudes to road safety in the future. Ministers noted that the initiatives provide an opportunity to further harmonise road safety practices on a national basis and to build on the range of effective road safety measures already being carried out in the States and Territories and through the National Road Safety Action Plan. The following framework was agreed by Ministers as integral to successful implementation of specific measures identified in the Package:
The road safety measures to be implemented by States and Territories include actions in the following areas:
ROAD SAFETY SUMMITTo assist in the development of a National Road Safety Action Plan for beyond the year 2000 a National Road Safety Summit will be held in 1999 that will provide for extensive community consultation. The Summit will progress the theme that to gain greater appreciation and understanding of road safety, there must be a perception that road safety is an issue that belongs to everyone. The first phase of the work on the Summit, which will extend the theme of enabling road safety issues to be developed from a community perspective, will begin with the development of mechanisms for long term, community wide consultation on road safety issues. To reduce the road toll Ministers stressed the overriding need for more positive support by the community for road safety and the importance of better driver and rider attitudes. RAIL REFORM SUMMITMinisters discussed a range of developments occurring in the rail industry in Australia. These included the Commonwealth's proposed sale of Australian National, shareholding in National Rail, and development of a national track access regime; State privatisation, plans and proposals for upgrading and of new inland rail routes. Having regard to the significance of these developments, ATC agreed to a Summit of Ministers in the near future to discuss the future of rail in Australia. The Summit is to be hosted by the Commonwealth. ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTMinisters noted a report on the progress of a Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) being prepared by the Commonwealth Attorney-General on the draft Standards for Accessible Public Transport agreed in-principle by ATC in June 1996. Ministers reaffirmed their support in principle for the draft Standards, and their strong support for practical and sensible arrangements to provide the disabled community with access to public transport services. Ministers noted that the costings in the draft RIS needed further analysis and agreed that costings should be based on up-to-date and accurate information to be provided by the States and Territories. To support the RIS process and continue moves toward a practical implementation of accessibility standards, Ministers agreed to the establishment of arrangements to involve all stakeholders, particularly disability groups in the ongoing RIS process aimed at ensuring costings used in the RIS are as accurate as possible and at ensuring all options for practical and effective implementation of standards are considered. NATIONAL MARINE SAFETY STRATEGYMinisters announced today the release for public comment of a new draft national strategy aimed at improving marine safety. Ministers are seeking a nationally harmonised system, based on world's best practices. The strategy will provide for consistent application of common standards and regulations, mutual recognition of vessel and personnel certificates, speedy adoption of new technologies and marine operational practices, and should minimise costs resulting from inconsistent or inefficient administration. The strategy is principally aimed at commercial vessels and recreational craft which come under the control of the States and the Northern Territory. The strategy will provide a framework around which Governments, industry, recreational users and other stakeholders can develop and coordinate their own plans and actions on issues where progress can best be made through effective cooperation. The National Marine Safety Committee was established in March with the agreement of all Governments. The Committee has principal responsibility for coordination of standards setting and the regulation of marine safety. It is also responsible for coordinating implementation of the strategy. CONSISTENCY OF RURAL ROUTE SIGNAGEMinisters endorsed the initiatives for an improved route numbering system, especially in rural areas. The proposal is a positive step to providing better and more consistent information to the road user, and further underlines the seamless nature of the Nation's major transport links. It is being developed co-operatively by all jurisdictions within their own works program and will involve major routes being signposted with an alpha-numeric designation based on the existing route numbers, but enhanced by a letter indicating the relative importance of the road and its standard. MINISTERIAL COUNCIL FOR ROAD TRANSPORTThe meeting convened as the Ministerial Council for Road Transport (MCRT) and discussed several items referred to it by the National Road Transport Commission (NRTC). MASS LIMITS REVIEW - IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGYMinisters discussed a paper from the NRTC on the funding of any bridge upgrading arising from the proposed increased heavy vehicle mass limits. Council noted that considerable progress had been made by jurisdictions on the impact of increased mass limits on the nation's bridge stock, but that it was not possible to finalise funding needs and the appropriate division of responsibility between the tiers of government at this stage. Issues requiring further attention included a comprehensive assessment of the impact on local government infrastructure, the potential input for a modal shift from rail to road, and the need for an appropriate compliance and reinforcement regime to eliminate gross overloading. Ministers agreed to proceed with the resolution of these outstanding issues. Some jurisdictions indicated the preparedness to proceed with implementation. Recommendations to be made to Ministers in November 1997, will include:
IMPLEMENTATION OF NATIONAL ROAD TRANSPORT COMMISSION REVIEWMinisters endorsed a revised timetable for implementing the Review of National Road Transport Law, with the new legislation to be introduced in the Commonwealth Parliament in the Spring Sitting. The Commonwealth will seek to have the legislation passed in a single session of the Commonwealth Parliament. Ministers approved procedures for appointing NRTC Commissioners. 1997/98 NRTC STRATEGIC PLANMinisters agreed that the NRTC should use its draft paper as a basis for consultations with stakeholders to develop its strategic plan for the next 3 years for the consideration of Ministers. 1997/98 NRTC BUDGET AND APPORTIONMENTMinisters approved an NRTC budget of $3.54 million for 1997/98, and requested the NRTC to provide further advice on draft program proposals within this budget framework. INTELLIGENT TRANSPORT SYSTEMS (ITS)Ministers reiterated their support for the development and implementation of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) but noted their concerns about lack of inter-operability of ITS applications, particularly Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) systems. Ministers requested Austroads and Intelligent Transport Systems Australia to prepare a draft national standard for ETC that would form the basis for future implementation of ETC systems throughout Australia. Ministers requested that this draft standard and associated framework be available for consideration at the next meeting of ATC. ROAD SAFETY BLACKSPOT PROGRAMMinisters noted progress with the implementation of the Federal Road Safety Black Spot Program, with the second round of Consultative Panel meetings now proceeding. DRAFT NATIONAL GREENHOUSE STRATEGYMinisters noted the measures aimed at limiting greenhouse emissions through changes to transport and urban form which are contained in the draft National Greenhouse Strategy. These measures included:
SALE OF BREATH ANALYSING INSTRUMENTSMinisters noted a concern raised by the Victorian Minister for Roads and Ports, the Hon Geoff Craige MLC, about the sale of breath testing devices for personal use which do not meet the Australian Standard. Ministers decided to refer this issue to the Ministerial Council for Consumer Affairs for consideration. MEMBERS ATTENDING CAIRNS 1997Chair: Hon John Cleary, Tasmanian Minister for Transport
OBSERVERS
ALSO ATTENDING
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Last Updated: 9 June, 2005 |
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