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© Commonwealth of Australia 2019 

ISBN 978-1-925843-14-9 

August 2019 / INFRA4021 

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In August 2016, the Transport and Infrastructure Council (the Council) agreed to the National Policy Framework for Land Transport Technology (the Policy Framework). The Policy Framework outlines an agreed national approach to policy, regulatory and investment decision-making for technologies in the land transport sector. This national approach recognises that ongoing advances in transport technology have the potential to fundamentally improve the safety, productivity, sustainability and accessibility of Australia’s transport systems.  

Changes in the technological environment are occurring rapidly, making it challenging to plan beyond the horizon. The National Land Transport Technology Action Plan (the Action Plan), which underpins the Policy Framework, sets out short-to-medium term national priorities. The Action Plan ensures that individual actions by Australian governments are appropriately prioritised, avoid duplication and encourage greater collaboration and sharing of key learnings.  

The 2016-19 Action Plan delivered important foundational work in a range of key areas, including regulatory reform, trials and research on Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), geo-positioning and security for connected vehicles. This has positioned Australia strongly in a global environment, as governments around the world prepare for the opportunities and challenges of new transport technology. Australia has been internationally recognised for its proactive approach to regulatory settings, while our competitive advantage in research and advanced manufacturing puts us at the forefront of emerging industries. 

The 2020-23 Action Plan is structured around the key issues identified in the Policy Framework: 

Safety, Security and Privacy 

Digital and Physical Infrastructure  

Data 

Standards and Interoperability  

Positioning for Disruption and Change 

The 2020-23 Action Plan builds on the work established and underway from the 2016-19 Action Plan. New priorities in this update explore technology in the freight sector, low and zero emissions vehicles, Mobility as a Service (MaaS), and how connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) will influence future infrastructure and land use planning. The updated Action Plan also includes areas of future focus. These areas represent upcoming priorities for national coordination, depending on the outcomes of key actions in this document and in the context of a rapidly changing technological environment.  

This update continues the commitment to industry and academic progress, through organisations such as the iMove consortium of industry, government and research partners that deliver collaborative R&D projects. The National Transport Commission (NTC) and Austroads also have a critical role in delivering on the key priorities outlined in this Action Plan.  

The NTC is an independent advisory body tasked by Council to provide land transport reform proposals. The NTC works with Australian governments, industry and community, to develop the end-to-end regulatory framework that will support the safe deployment of automated vehicles on Australian roads. The NTC’s automated vehicle program includes work to design a safety assurance regime and the development of driving law options to provide for the safe commercial deployment of automated vehicles.  

Austroads is the peak body of Australasian road transport and traffic agencies. The Austroads board is responsible for advising Council members on technical, operational and regulatory issues. Austroads’ connected automated and electric vehicle programincludes developing recommendations to address issues such as road and road-side infrastructure suitability and national consistency, road operator data access, driver education and licensing. Austroads’ Network program develops guidance that ensures the safe, efficient and shared use of the road space for the end-to-end movement of people and goods. This supports road transport agencies in managing and regulating emerging business models (for example, micromobility, on-demand transport solutions, and Mobility as a Service) and in investigating how technology and data enables next-generation transport network management to tackle traffic congestion and improve journey time and journey time reliability. 

Safety, Security and Privacy

Safety, Security and Privacy 

Australia is taking a safety-focused approach to technology such as automated vehicles and cooperative and intelligent transport systems. This approach aims to give the community confidence in this emerging technology and support effective deployment.  

Completed and ongoing actions since 2016

COMPLETE: Establishment of a regulatory framework for testing automated vehicles (2016 Action Plan – item 1) Australian jurisdictions have committed to removing barriers and ensuring manufacturers are able to safely test automated vehicles in real-world conditions. This project concluded in 2017 with the Council agreeing to the publication of Guidelines for Trials of Automated Vehicles in Australia.  

COMPLETE: Evaluation of low-cost technologies to improve safety at level crossings (2016 Action plan – item 10) This project explored the merits of accelerated uptake of smart safety technology for level crossings and their incorporation in rail safety planning. This project concluded with the Transport and Infrastructure Senior Officials Committee endorsing the National Railway Level Crossing Safety Strategy.   

COMPLETE: Investigate the costs, benefits, and possible deployment models for automatic crash notification (2016 Action plan – item 13)  

This project, led by the Commonwealth, analysed a range of potential deployment models for automatic crash notification systems. These systems are designed to provide emergency services with timely and accurate location data of a vehicle in a serious crash situation. This work will inform possible future deployment arrangements.

ONGOING: Development of national operational guidelines to support on-road use of automated vehicles (2016 Action Plan – Item 2) 

Austroads has completed projects in support of this action, including key road agency actions to support automated vehicles, registration and licensing issues and automated heavy vehicles in remote and regional areas. Further work is underway on complex issues such as road operations, pavement markings for machine vision and driver education.  ONGOING: Development of a national deployment plan for security management of connected and automated vehicles 

(2016 Action Plan – Item 6) 

The Commonwealth and state and territory governments are conducting research on and piloting systems for managing cyber security in CAVs and connected infrastructure, using international best-practice approaches. Work on this action is continuing through key priorities 1.2 and 4.1. 

Key priorities over the next three years  

NEW: 1.1 End-to-end regulation for the commercial deployment of automated vehicles

In line with Council priorities, the National Transport Commission is working with the Commonwealth, states and territories to develop a regulatory system that supports the safe deployment and operation of automated vehicles in Australia, covering first supply, in-service and decommissioning. Key actions related to this work include: 

a)               Implementing regulatory arrangements so automated vehicles are safe at the point of first supply in Australia Timeframe: late-2019, with further periodic changes to implement emerging international best practice approaches.

Lead partners: NTC, Commonwealth, states and territories.

b)              Reviewing the approach to in-service safety for automated vehicles, including consideration of institutional arrangements and road traffic and driving laws.  Timeframe: mid-2020, with legislative amendments following.  

Lead partners: NTC, Commonwealth, states and territories. 

c)               Reviewing state and territory based motor accident injury insurance schemes to ensure appropriate insurance arrangements are in place to deal with crashes caused by automated vehicles.  

Timeframe: mid-2021. 

Lead partners: NTC, Commonwealth, states and territories.

NEW: 1.2 Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS) Security Credential Management System (SCMS) Pilot Project  

The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads is conducting on-road operational testing of an SCMS. The SCMS approach secures communication between C-ITS applications. The iMOVE Cooperative Research Centre will study the use of SCMS and its future role in C-ITS applications for transport authorities, including vehicle safety and security, privacy issues and system performance and governance. This pilot will inform government decisionmaking on a potential national deployment plan.  

Timeframe: end-2021.

Lead partners: Commonwealth, Queensland.

NEW: 1.3 Guiding principles and approaches to facilitate safe and legal larger-scale trials of automated vehicles Building on the establishment of the Guidelines for Trials of Automated Vehicles in Australia in 2017, this key priority will develop guidance on conducting larger-scale trials with a view to commercial deployments.  

Timeframe: end-2021.  

Lead partners: Commonwealth, state and territory jurisdictions, NTC, Austroads. 

NEW: 1.4 Accelerate the deployment and uptake of road safety technologies and innovation     

There is a strong commitment across all levels of government to improve safety outcomes on our roads. Governments are        committed to implementing the National Road Safety Strategy 2011-2020 and the associated National Road Safety            Action Plan 2018–2020, including priority actions for the deployment and uptake of vehicle safety technologies. The      Commonwealth will streamline the process for legislative and 

 regulatory changes to vehicle safety standards to improve 

  the uptake of new safety technology in the Australian new                         

vehicle fleet, and consider aligning Australian regulations 

with the proposed European regulatory package to            commence within a similar timeframe.  

  Timeframe:  subject to consultation.                                                                 

Lead partners: Commonwealth, states and territories.

  Areas of future focus:                                                         

Ensuring safe design for in-vehicle information and          communications systems 

Consideration of C-ITS security applications at a national scale 

Digital and Physical Infrastructure                          

Digital and Physical Infrastructure 

New technologies will likely need new types of digital infrastructure. They may also influence the existing infrastructure that underpins the transport system today. Australian governments are investigating what digital and physical infrastructure will be needed in the future, and how it can be provided effectively.  

Completed and ongoing actions since 2016 

COMPLETE: Exploration of the merits of new safety and traffic management technologies (2016 Action Plan – Item 14) 

Austroads led an international scanning exercise on the costs and benefits of traffic management technologies. This work will help governments to understand which technologies are mature and have proven benefits when decisions are being made about investment. The final report was published in May 2018.  

COMPLETE: Investigation of options to provide enhanced geo-positioning information to the land transport sector (2016 Action Plan – Item 7) 

Australian and New Zealand governments developed a testbed for enhanced positioning techniques, including connected and automated vehicle projects. In 2018 the Australian Government funded the development of a Satellite-Based Augmentation System and a national ground station network to enhance Australian geo-positioning. 

ONGOING: Priority trials and research of Intelligent 

Transport Systems (2016 Action Plan – Item 3) Research and trials of emerging transport technology remains a priority for all jurisdictions. A Connected and Automated Vehicle Trials and Technology working group was established across jurisdictions to monitor future trials, avoid duplication and optimise information sharing. Austroads continues to publish information about ongoing trials on its website. This research and trialing is a key exercise to inform further analysis sought through key priority 2.1. 

Key priorities over the next three years  

NEW: 2.1 Develop guidance on how infrastructure can be future ready for CAV technology within an integrated transport and land use planning framework The Commonwealth will develop guidance to support policy and investment decisions on technology in the road transport sector. The guidance will consider strategic priorities for governments to harness the safety, productivity, sustainability and accessibility benefits of transport technology.  

Timeframe: mid-2020.  

Lead partners: Commonwealth, Austroads.

NEW: 2.2 Develop program of work to address the barriers and challenges impeding the uptake of Low and Zero Emissions Vehicles (LZEVs) 

Developed through the LZEV Working Group, this will support the Transport and Infrastructure Council’s strategic work program to improve the environmental performance of infrastructure and transport systems, remove barriers to innovation and capitalise on new and emerging technologies. This work will also consider the development of a National Hydrogen Strategy and the future development of a National Strategy for Electric Vehicles. 

Timeframe: early-2020.

Lead partners: LZEV Working Group (including Commonwealth, states and territories and Austroads). 

Areas of future focus 

Investigating potential interactions between multi-modal drones and infrastructure corridors 

Disruption and Change  

Disruption and Change 

Government and transport agencies are experiencing a changing environment, with potential shifts in traditional sources of revenue, infrastructure needs, insurance standards, enforcement of road rules and skills training in the sector. The policy framework will continue to support agencies’ decision-making as these changes unfold. This action plan outlines Australian governments’ commitment to research, partnering with industry and academia and proactively positioning the Australian transport system for the future. 

Ongoing and revised actions since 2016 

ONGOING: Explore options to increase the uptake of telematics and other technologies for regulatory and revenue collection purposes (2016 Action Plan – Item 9) This work examined strategies for government and the private sector to accelerate deployment of telematics, and was incorporated into a review of the regulatory telematics regime. The National Transport Commission released the Review of Regulatory Telematics report in March 2018, and continues to work with key stakeholders on implementing the report’s recommendations.    

REVISED: Investigate options for interoperable public transport ticketing (2016 Action Plan – Item 12) Transport ticketing technology is evolving and existing systems require renewal to take advantage of developments. Key priority 5.2 will continue the intent of this action through a wider analysis of Mobility as a Service. 

Key priorities over the next three years

NEW: 5.1 Identify and facilitate emerging technologies that improve freight outcomes   

International and Australian trials and research have shown that new technologies can increase freight network efficiency, decrease risk to transport users, reduce fuel usage and emissions, and enhance traceability of supply chains. Through the National Action Plan of the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy, jurisdictions will:

• facilitate research and trials of transport technology in the Australian freight sector;
• develop an evidence base to inform next steps on improving freight outcomes, skills, workforce and industry impacts, and future infrastructure needs; and
• promote national consistency to support interoperability.

Timeframe: end-2019 onwards.

Lead partners: Commonwealth, states and territories.  

NEW: 5.2 Investigate the role of governments in MaaS and identify priorities and enablers to support its effective development and deployment  

MaaS combines public and private transport options in a single app, providing an integrated origin to destination journey, handling payment and bookings through the same platform and providing dynamic route-planning information to users. This provides a model to improve mobility and accessibility in cities, towns and regions. The specific business models of MaaS are being explored and tested around the world, including Australia. This action will define the opportunities and challenges in an Australian context of integrating various forms of transport into a single, optimised on-demand mobility service. This includes describing the enabling roles of governments in guiding the deployment of MaaS.   

Timeframe: end-2020, subject to consultation.

Lead partners: Commonwealth, states and territories.

NEW: 5.3 Research into the competition impacts of automated vehicles

Potential deployment scenarios for automated vehicles may influence commercial issues such as repairer access, ecommerce platforms and access to data. Research into this aspect of the technology will guide future regulatory decisions making and identify future analysis needed.  

Timeframe: subject to consultation.

Lead partners: NTC, Commonwealth.