Media Release: Establishment of the National Transport Commission

Australia's Transport Ministers today announced that Commonwealth, State and Territory Heads of Government have agreed to the establishment of the National Transport Commission.

Establishment of the National Transport Commission was one of the key recommendations of the Review of the National Road Transport Commission (NRTC) Act 1991 considered by the Australian Transport Council (ATC) at its meeting in August 2002.

The National Transport Commission will continue the NRTC's role of reforming road transport regulation and operations, with an increased emphasis on keeping implemented reforms up to date, so that national uniformity is maintained 'on the ground'.

The new body will also undertake reform of rail and intermodal regulation and operations. ATC has already agreed that early priority should be given to further developing the national approach to rail safety regulation, to achieve a more effective mutual recognition regime, and to manage major risk factors such as fatigue.

ATC is committed to the National Transport Commission becoming operative as soon as possible. To this end, it has agreed that rail and intermodal units will be established in the NRTC by July 2003. The functions of the NRTC will then be formally assumed by the National Transport Commission, on the passage of legislation establishing the new body by January 2004.

ATC has also initiated development of a First National Transport Regulation Reform Package for its consideration at its meeting in May 2003. The Package will set a detailed forward agenda for reform and underpin the National Transport Commission's initial Strategic Plan.

The Package will be developed in consultation with industry and other interest groups during February and March, building on the recommendations of the NRTC Act Review and the Review of the Inter-Governmental Agreement for Rail Operational Uniformity and the Australian Rail Operations Unit, which was also considered by ATC last year.

Funding arrangements for the National Transport Commission will be considered by ATC at its May meeting.

Copies of the NRTC Act Review Report and the Report of the Review of the Inter-Governmental Agreement for Rail Operational Uniformity and the Australian Rail Operations Unit are now available on the ATC website or through links from State and Territory transport agency websites.

For publication details/information, contact:

Sandra Doolan (02) 6274 7026 or
Robert Hogan (02) 6274 7652.

Last Updated: 9 June, 2005