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30 April 1999

Transport Ministers of the Commonwealth, State and Territory governments met in Adelaide today as the Australian Transport Council (ATC). The meeting was hosted and chaired by the South Australian Minister for Transport, Urban Planning and the Arts, the Honourable Diana Laidlaw MLC.

National Transport Secretariat

Ministers agreed to establish a National Transport Secretariat to directly advise ATC on major issues of National Importance.

Accessible Transport

In respect of Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport ATC:

  • Agreed that the draft Standards as developed by the Disability Discrimination Act Transport Standards Taskforce be adopted subject to the exclusion of dedicated school buses, charter services and ferries in open waters.
  • Noted that any jurisdiction has the ability to apply to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission for exemptions from the Standards.
  • Noted that NSW and Tasmania endorsed the Standards, subject to the Commonwealth funding their implementation.
  • Agreed that the implementation of the Standards be subject to an audit after one year and that the Standards themselves, which were developed in 1996, be reviewed after two years.

The States and Territories reaffirmed their view that the Commonwealth has a responsibility to fund the implementation of the Standards and recommended that the issue of funding be referred to the next meeting of COAG.

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MECHANISMS TO DRIVE RAIL REFORM ISSUES

Ministers agreed that an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) be established as an interim measure to facilitate implementation of uniform operational requirements and rail standards.

Ministers agreed to develop a framework for the IGA which should include the following key elements:

  • Government commitment to a nationally consistent implementation mechanism to ensure timely adoption of uniform operational requirements;
  • establishment of a non-statutory unit attached to the Commonwealth Department of Transport and Regional Services to facilitate and coordinate implementation arrangements; and
  • establishment of custodianship arrangements to provide for ownership of intellectual property and an entity for legal liability issues.

Ministers also agreed that the IGA be finalised for endorsement at the November 1999 ATC meeting.

REVIEW OF RAIL SAFETY ARRANGEMENTS

Ministers agreed to the Standing Committee on Transport establishing an independent review of rail safety arrangements which will focus particularly on the interstate system and include:

  • a review of the Intergovernmental Agreement on Rail Safety required by the Agreement; and
  • input from the self-review currently being undertaken by the Rail Safety Committee of Australia.

The review, to be jointly funded by the Commonwealth and the States, is to be available for consideration by Ministers at the ATC meeting in November 1999.

REPORT ON INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION AND OPEN REPORTING OF RAIL OCCURRENCES

Ministers endorsed adoption of the Report on Independent Investigation And Open Reporting of Rail Occurrences and requested that further development of the Australian Standard AS 4292.7 "Railway Occurrence Investigation" be consistent with its content.

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School bus safety

The final report on school bus safety will be presented to the next ATC when Ministers will further consider best practice approaches to school bus safety.

PREVENTING THE REGISTRATION OF RE-BIRTHED STOLEN VEHICLES

Ministers supported the adoption by jurisdictions of uniform standards for the registration of vehicles. These standards will minimise opportunities for unscrupulous people to defraud registration systems to rebirth stolen vehicles.

All jurisdictions agreed to expedite the implementation of connecting databases and developing compulsory wrecks registers.

The Austroads Working Party will work with police and the insurance industry to define the types of wrecks that are useful only for parts and should never be registered.

Progress will be reported to the next ATC.

DEDICATED ROAD INVESTMENT FUND

Ministers agreed that the National Transport Secretariat would consider ways of securing additional funding for roads.

Future of marine safety radio communications

Ministers noted that the tendering process for the replacement system for safety radio communications is nearing finalisation. AMSA has selected a system that best satisfies their requirements and represents best value for money. AMSA will announce the successful tenderer as soon as contract negotiations are finalised.

The Commonwealth has undertaken to seek funding for the existing coastal radio network until mid 2002 when the replacement system will be introduced.

NATIONAL MARINE SAFETY COMMITTEE

Ministers endorsed the mid-term review of the National Marine Safety Committee and agreed that it has an important role to fulfil. The review found that the Committee should continue for another two years to fulfil its objectives and should pursue the adoption of a national Uniform Shipping Laws Code system as a matter of urgency.

An action plan to implement the review's recommendations is being developed.

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JURISDICTION FOR VESSEL SAFETY REGULATION

Ministers agreed to alter the jurisdiction responsibility for vessel safety regulation. Currently the Commonwealth regulates trading vessels on interstate and overseas voyages, while the States regulate those on intrastate voyages. The agreement will allow the Commonwealth, through the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, to have clear responsibility for the regulation of safety for all Australian trading vessels 500 tons and over, Australian trading vessels proceeding overseas and all foreign flagged trading vessels in Australian waters. The States would have responsibility for all trading vessels under 500 tons, whether they undertake interstate or intrastate voyages. It is not proposed to alter coverage of fishing, offshore industry and recreational vessels.

This initiative will improve the efficiency of safety regulation and to reduce the administrative and cost burden on businesses. Ministers have recommended that the necessary amendments be in place by 1 January 2001. Amendments will be effected through the Commonwealth Navigation Act 1912 and related changes to State legislation as necessary.

NRTC CHAIRMAN'S REPORT AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY

Ministers noted the National Road Transport Commission (NRTC) report on status of road transport reforms and accountabilities.

Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to meet the time frames for delivering the reform program, and noted the NRTC's intention to report in future on additional reforms and their time lines.

HEAVY VEHICLE CHARGES

The NRTC is reviewing its draft proposal for updating heavy vehicle charges in light of taxation reforms and its report will be made available in the last quarter of 1999.

HIGHER MASS LIMITS FOR ROAD-FRIENDLY HEAVY VEHICLES

Ministers noted the progress of the work being coordinated by the NRTC to ensure the consistent national introduction of higher mass limits for heavy vehicles with road-friendly suspensions, subject to bridge funding.

Ministers also noted that South Australia had introduced higher mass limits on 1 January 1999. Some jurisdictions reported their progress in defining road networks for vehicles at higher limits. NSW did not agree to implement higher mass limits until Commonwealth funding for bridge upgrading on all roads was resolved.

The Commonwealth has invited bridge funding proposals for the National Highway. Discussion indicated that proposals appear to exceed $20 million and Ministers noted that funding issues need consideration for state arterial and local roads.

Ministers noted that the Commonwealth may have some flexibility to cover National Highway funding requirements above $20 million if these proposals were kept within reasonable limits.

States and Territories resolved that the Federal Interstate Registration Scheme be abolished and called on the Commonwealth to repeal the FIRS legislation from 1 January 2000. The Commonwealth indicated that it would review the operation of FIRS, which would be retained as a driver of road transport reform.

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NRTC 1999/2000 BUDGET

The National Road Transport Commission's 1999-2000 budget was set at $3.54 million with $1.239 million to be funded by the Commonwealth and the remainder apportioned between the States and Territories on the basis of the number of the vehicles registered in those jurisdictions.

NATIONAL GREENHOUSE STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION

The Australian Transport Council decided on arrangements to implement those activities assigned to it under the National Greenhouse Strategy.

Module 5 of the Greenhouse Strategy "Efficient Transport and Sustainable Urban Planning", sets out nine areas of activity to reduce greenhouse emissions from the transport sector which require national coordination which will be provided by the ATC. Additional consultations will now be undertaken with interested groups such as industry, transport agencies and the Australian Greenhouse Office to further refine implementation arrangements.

NATIONAL CORONERS INFORMATION SYSTEM

Ministers expressed support for the development of a National Coroners Information System as a tool to assist in the reduction of preventable death and injury in Australia.

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INTELLIGENT TRANSPORT SYSTEMS - NATIONAL Strategy

Ministers noted progress with development of a national strategy for Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) and that a final version should be available for their November 1999 meeting.

NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Australian Transport Council will be held in Perth on Friday 12 November 1999.

MEMBERS ATTENDING ADELAIDE

Chair: The Hon Diana Laidlaw MLC, South Australian Minister for Transport and Urban Planning

  • The Hon John Anderson MP, Commonwealth Minister for Transport and Regional Services
  • The Hon Carl Scully MLA, New South Wales Minister Transport and Minister for Roads .
  • The Hon Robin Cooper MLA, Victorian Minister for Transport
  • The Hon Geoff Craige MLC, Victorian Minister for Roads and Ports
  • The Hon Steve Bredhauer MLA, Queensland Minister for Transport and Minister for Main Roads
  • The Hon Murray Criddle MLC, Western Australian Minister for Transport
  • The Hon Paul Lennon MHA, Tasmanian Minister for Infrastructure, Energy and Resources
  • Mr Brendan Smyth MLA, Australian Capital Territory Minister for Urban Services
  • The Hon Maurice Williamson MP, New Zealand Minister of Transport

OBSERVERS:

  • The Hon Vincent Auali MP, Papua New Guinea Minister for Transport
  • Cr John Ross, Australian Local Government Association

APOLOGIES:

  • The Hon Barry Coulter MLA, Northern Territory Minister for Transport and Infrastructure

ALSO ATTENDING:

  • Mr Stuart Hicks, Chairman, National Road Transport Commission
  • Ms Virginia Hickey, Commissioner, National Road Transport Commission

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Last Updated: 28 July, 2010