Communiques

12 November 1999

• National Transport Secretariat
• Intelligent Transport Systems - National Strategy
• Interoperability for Electronic Tolling
• Rail Reform - Intergovernmental Agreement
• Rail Safety Arrangements
• Future of Coastal Safety Radio Communications
• Alternative Fuels Conversion Program
• National Recognition of the Blind Pass
• NCP Assessment of Road Transport Reform
• NRTC - Implementation Status Report
• Heavy Vehicle Charges
• NRTC Strategic Plan, Work Program, and 2000/01 Budget
• Defence Force Exemptions
• Recording of Information on Organ Donor Status on Nevdis
• Next Meeting

Transport Ministers of the Commonwealth, State and Territory governments met in Perth today as the Australian Transport Council (ATC). The meeting was chaired by the Commonwealth Minister for Transport and Regional Services and Deputy Prime Minister, the Honourable John Anderson MP and hosted by the Western Australian Minister for Transport, the Honourable Murray Criddle MLC.

NATIONAL TRANSPORT SECRETARIAT

Ministers agreed to set up a National Transport Secretariat (NTS) to advise the Council on transport issues so that it can best tackle cross-modal, cross-jurisdictional and strategic issues of national significance. The expert group should be operational in March 2000.

INTELLIGENT TRANSPORT SYSTEMS - NATIONAL STRATEGY

Ministers adopted the Intelligent Transport Systems National Strategy ('e Transport').

Ministers commented that a national approach to ITS is a crucial step in ensuring advances in technology are harnessed to improve the safety, efficiency and user-friendliness of Australia's transport services - public and private - and to reduce the impact of congestion and traffic emissions.

Estimates suggest Australia could gain benefits worth a minimum $14.5 billion (net present value to 2012) from accelerated use of ITS.

Key areas of initiative in 'e Transport' include:

• a focus on achieving interoperability (ability of ITS systems to work and communicate together), recognised internationally as essential in ensuring the benefits from ITS continue to grow;

• ITS trials to improve rural road safety and safety for higher risk travel, eg fatigue, driving in unfamiliar conditions and collision avoidance;

• assessment of the greenhouse benefits of existing ITS;

• measures to foster a competitive, high value Australian-based ITS industry; and

• development of proposals for national ITS deployment projects in the priority areas of safety, metropolitan, and regional and rural uses, by mid-2001.

Ministers emphasised the key to successful implementation of the National Strategy will be cooperation between stakeholders - and urged users, industry and public sector agencies to collaborate in implementing 'e Transport'.

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INTEROPERABILITY FOR ELECTRONIC TOLLING

Ministers considered a proposal by NSW to monitor introduction of Electronic Toll Collection in Australia and to ensure full national advantage is taken of global advances in ETC.

The work of the group will be an integral part of the ITS National Strategy and will reinforce ATC's decision of April 1998 to adopt a protocol for a single Australian standard for ETC.

RAIL REFORM - INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT

Ministers today agreed to sign an Inter-Government Agreement allowing for the creation of an Australian Rail Operations Unit which will take responsibility for publishing and promoting the adoption of uniform operating practices on the interstate rail network.

Governments and industry have been working to develop draft codes, which are now undergoing full industry consultation. It is expected that the codes will be finalised for implementation early next year.

RAIL SAFETY ARRANGEMENTS

Ministers considered the report to the Standing Committee on Transport (SCOT) by consultants Booz-Allen & Hamilton on an 'Independent Review of Rail Safety Arrangements' and agreed that:

• the establishment of two new statutory bodies to cover all rail safety regulation and investigation, as recommended by the report, should not be progressed at this stage given the substantial progress made towards achieving the objectives of the 1996 Intergovernmental Agreement on Rail Safety;
• the Commonwealth, States and the Northern Territory would fund as a priority the development of national rail safety statistics and analysis by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, interfacing with State and Northern Territory rail databases, to enable better analysis of system safety; and
• that other safety issues identified in the Review report be addressed by Rail Group, through development of a strategic implementation plan for consideration by SCOT.

Copies of the Booz-Allen & Hamilton report are available through the ATC web site, www.atcouncil.gov.au.

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FUTURE OF COASTAL SAFETY RADIO COMMUNICATIONS

Ministers asked SCOT to oversight the Marine and Ports Group's development of technical options for non-SOLAS users, drawing on findings of the joint working group examining emerging technical solutions and the results of the Thompson Clarke Shipping survey of users and their needs.

Ministers have asked for the matter to be brought back to them in April with a solution that maintains at least the present levels of service.

Ministers agreed to extend the existing Telstra service until June 2005, or until a suitable technical solution is identified which maintains or improves the present levels of service, whichever is sooner.

ALTERNATIVE FUELS CONVERSION PROGRAM

Ministers emphasised the importance of developing performance-based measures to improve vehicle emissions. It was agreed that the Energy Credits Scheme provides an opportunity to pursue a performance-based approach in promoting the move to cleaner fuels. The Commonwealth undertook to address this issue in developing the Scheme.

Ministers noted that the lack of heavy vehicles emissions testing facilities is an important gap in responding to air quality and greenhouse issues. Such facilities could provide an ongoing profile of heavy vehicle emissions, and enable States and Territories to take effective action to reduce emissions by targeting the performance of vehicles. Ministers noted the importance of developing a mechanism for the in-service testing of diesel powered vehicles in Australia.

Ministers endorsed a program of work towards the development of a proposal for a National Emissions Testing Network, building on an existing NSW proposal. The program of work would be based on a phased approach, including ensuring a framework for technical comparisons (standards) is in place, and building upon technical development work already in progress.

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NATIONAL RECOGNITION OF THE BLIND PASS

Ministers agreed to refer this matter to SCOT for further investigation and report to the next ATC meeting. Ministers also agreed that, due to the broader implications, State, Territory and Commonwealth Ministers responsible for health and community services should also be consulted.

NCP ASSESSMENT OF ROAD TRANSPORT REFORM

Ministers agreed that SCOT Working Group dealing with National Competition Policy should reconvene to commence development of a framework for third tranche assessment of road transport reform in 2001. The framework will be subject to ATC and COAG agreement before COAG provides it to the National Competition Council by February 2001.

The framework will be developed in accordance with the principles established prior to the second tranche assessment. Ministers agreed that industry consultation should be part of setting criteria to judge whether a reform has been successfully implemented.

NRTC - IMPLEMENTATION STATUS REPORT

Ministers noted progress with implementation by jurisdictions of the 31 reforms covered by the initial six national road transport reform modules and the reforms in the two Heavy Vehicle Reform Packages. The significant achievement will bring lasting productivity, efficiency and safety benefits to the road transport industry and the community as a whole.

HEAVY VEHICLE CHARGES

Ministers discussed NRTC recommendations to update national heavy vehicle charges. The revised charges (the 'second charges determination'), to update national charges that were last calculated in 1992, will be put to Ministers for formal vote shortly. The new charges are proposed to be implemented by 1 July 2000.

A majority of Ministers were in favour of a proposal to index charges to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). It was agreed that Ministers would undertake further consultation and that the issue would be put to the vote shortly. The Chairman reiterated the Council's longstanding commitment to national uniformity.

NRTC STRATEGIC PLAN, WORK PROGRAM, AND 2000/01 BUDGET

Ministers endorsed the 2000/01 -2002/03 National Road Transport Commission's Strategic Plan and the NRTC 2000/01 budget and apportionment of contributions between the jurisdictions. The NRTC's Work in Progress report, the Work Program and Motor Vehicle Environment Committee's Action Plan were noted. Ministers supported the NRTC priority, reflected in the Strategic Plan, of ensuring timely implementation of agreed reforms.

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DEFENCE FORCE EXEMPTIONS

Ministers agreed to exempt the Australian Defence Force (ADF) from certain provisions of Commonwealth, State and Territory road transport legislation where this is in the interests of the defence or security of Australia, noting that the ADF has measures in place to ensure safety of citizens.

RECORDING OF INFORMATION ON ORGAN DONOR STATUS ON NEVDIS

Ministers agreed to support in principle a request from the Health Ministers' Council to identify drivers willing to be organ donors both on their drivers licences and in the National Exchange of Vehicle and Driver Information System (NEVDIS). They referred the matter to SCOT for investigation in conjunction with jurisdictions and Australians Donate.

NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Australian Transport Council will be held in Queensland in late April 2000.

MEMBERS ATTENDING PERTH

Chair: The Hon John Anderson MP, Commonwealth Minister for Transport and Regional Services and Deputy Prime Minister

Host: The Hon Murray Criddle MLC, Western Australian Minister for Transport

• The Hon Carl Scully MLA, New South Wales Minister for Transport and Minister for Roads
• The Hon Steve Bredhauer MLA, Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads
• The Hon Diana Laidlaw MLC, South Australian Minister for Transport and Urban Planning
• The Hon Paul Lennon MHA, Tasmanian Minister for Infrastructure, Energy and Resources
• The Hon Mick Palmer MLA, Northern Territory Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Development and Minister for Territory Ports
• Mr Brendan Smyth MLA, Australian Capital Territory Minister for Urban Services

• Cr John Ross, Australian Local Government Association

• Mr Stuart Hicks, Chairman, National Road Transport Commission

APOLOGIES:

• The Hon Peter Batchelor MLA, Victorian Minister for Transport
• The Hon Candy Broad MLC, Victorian Minister for Ports
• The Hon Maurice Williamson MP, New Zealand Minister of Transport
• The Hon Bart Philiemon MP, Papua-New Guinea Minister for Transport

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Last Updated: 9 June, 2005