Bob Herbert AM - ARA - ARA update

www.ara.net.au

ABN 64 217 302 489

ARA Update

Bob Herbert AM

NZ Rail Conference 2015

www.ara.net.au

ARA Review

• Australasian focused – emphasis on close cooperation e.g. TrackSAFE

• Focus on core business of policy, advocacy and facilitation

• More streamlined (working groups, work programs)

• Passenger, Freight, Industry and Contractors –Working Groups

www.ara.net.au

TrackSAFE aims:

1. Reduce suicide and suicide attempts;

2. Decrease trespass incidents;

3. Improve level crossing safety education and awareness;

and

4. Provide best practice trauma support for rail employees.

Structure:

• funded by Australian rail industry

• 23 members

• independent Board

• Patron - Tim Fischer ACtracksafefoundation.com.au

www.ara.net.au

tracksafefoundation.com.autracksafefoundation.com.au

Members

www.ara.net.au

Big things happening in Australia

• Federal Budget – no new money & no interest in

urban rail

• States stepping up – record spending in Victoria,

Queensland and New South Wales

• Changing Momentum - major calls for Federal

funding – Infrastructure Audit, State Ministers

www.ara.net.au

Federal Funding: Road VS Rail

$740

$1079$1303

$954

$674

$4214

$5935

$8402

$6899

$4236

$0

$1

$2

$3

$4

$5

$6

$7

$8

$9

2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19

Billion $

Rail Road

www.ara.net.au

State Funding Commitments

NEW SOUTH WALES

• North West Rail Link

• Second Harbor Rail Crossing

VICTORIA

• Trains, Trams Jobs 2015-2025

• Melbourne Metro Rail

• 50 Level Crossing Removals

QUEENSLAND

• Moreton Bay Rail Link

• Cross River Rail?

www.ara.net.au

Infrastructure Audit – 15 Year Infrastructure Plan

• Congestion is a big issue and costing Australia its

productivity, growth and international competitiveness

• Major reforms needed:

• Broader transport pricing (user pay)

• Increase private sector investment

• Long term pipeline of infrastructure projects

• Procurement reform

• Optimise existing infrastructure

www.ara.net.au

ARA stands ready

• ARA will continue to offer key events

and programs e.g. AusRAIL

• 10-15 Year Rolling Plan for productivity

and growth

• Will push to change view of Federal

Government on rail funding

www.ara.net.au

Big things happening in Australia – Why

not NZ?

• Less bureaucratic, no federation issues

• Smaller scale but issues much the same

• Significant progress made but must continue