The Federal Government has allocated $25.3 million in funding from the nation’s Budget to reform regulations regarding maritime safety, rail safety and heavy vehicles.

 

The reforms, aimed to be implemented by 2013, will aim to improve safety, streamline compliance for transport operators and boost national income by $30 billion over 20 years.

 

The new funding in the 2011-12 Budget builds on the $8.3 million provided in 2010-11 and will be used to complete the:

  • Establishment of a new Brisbane-based national heavy vehicle regulator with responsibility for registration and aligning regulations applying to trucks and buses over 4.5 tonnes;
  • Establishment of a new national rail safety regulator in Adelaide with oversight of the country's urban passenger rail networks and interstate freight operations.  The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) will become the national investigator of rail accidents;
  • Extension of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority's (AMSA) regulatory responsibilities to cover all commercial vessels, not just those involved in interstate and international trade.

 

The Budget funding implements the reforms developed in cooperation with state and territory governments and formally approved by the Council of Australian Governments in December 2009.