On March 8 ARF convened the second meeting of the Forum which functions as the national peak body for stakeholders in the road transport sector. The meeting, sponsored by Boral, was specifically structured to meet the high threshold required by senior management who are themselves well informed.
Sector Activity Overview
Nigel Hatcher from BIS Shrapnel gave a presentation on the current activities in the roads sector, covering the general economic outlook and also the outlook for construction and road maintenance.
The Perspective of the Federal Opposition
Senator Kerry O’Brien, Shadow Minister for Transport presented the Federal Oppositions view to the ARF forum. Senator O'Brien covered the need for national, state and local co-ordination for Australia's roads, the Labour party's perspective on Auslink, skills shortage, road safety, vehicle design and the road toll.
Road Authority Panel
The panel addressed a number of questions from the members during the morning session. The Panel consisted of:
Dr James Horne, Chief Executive, Department for Transport Energy and Infrastructure, South Australia
Mr David Stuart-Watt, Director, Operations and Services, RTA NSW
Mr Alan Tesch, CEO, Queensland Main Roads
Mr Bruce Van Every, GM, Road System Management, VicRoads
ARF Policy Issue – The National Skills Shortage
Mr John Vines, Chief Executive, APESMA
Mr Ivan Neville, Asst Secretary, Labour Supply and Skills, Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
Lunch and Guest Speaker
The Hon Peter Batchelor MP, Minister for Transport, Victoria
Hypothetical – Co-operation between Industry and Government
Marko Misko, a partner from Clayton Utz, led the hypothetical on industry issues after lunch. Participants in the hypothetical were
Mr John Allan, General Secretary, Transport Workers Union
- Mr John Allan, General Secretary, Transport Workers Union
- Mr David Anderson, Chief Executive, VicRoads
- Mr Peter Brecht, Managing Director, Abigroup
- Mr Ken Mathers, CEO, SEITA
- Dr Max Lay, Former President RACV
- Senator Kerry O’Brien, Federal Shadow Minister for Transport
Boral were the proud sponsors of this event.
Organisations that attended
Abigroup
ARRB Group
Australasian College of Road Safety
Australian Asphalt Pavement Association
Australian Construction Products
Australian Constructors Association
Baulderstone Hornibrook
BIS Shrapnel
Board Member ARRB Group
Boral
Cement, Concrete & Aggregates Australia (CCAA)
Civil Contractors Federation
Clayton Utz
ConnectEast
Connell Wagner
Department for Transport Energy & Infrastructure
Department of Employment & Workplace Relations
Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development
DOTARS
Engineers Australia
GHD Pty Ltd
Hyder Consulting
Investment Banking Group, Macquarie Bank
John Holland Group
Macquarie Investment Banking
Macquarie Infrastructure Group
Maunsell
Meyrick and Associates
Minister for Transport
MSP Group
Office of the Minister for Transport
Parsons Brinckerhoff
Pioneer Road Services
PriceWaterhouse Coopers
Queensland Main Roads
Resources & Infrastructure Industry Skills Council
Roads & Traffic Authority NSW
SEITA
Sinclair Knight Merz
Skilled
SMEC Australia
The Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers, Australia
Thiess
Transfield Services Australia Pty Ltd
Transport Workers Union of Australia
Transurban
Vic Roads
Works Infrastructure
ARF Membershikp reaches 40
ARF membership has reached forty, with Hyder Consulting joining in the month before the Forum Meeting. ARF membership has grown from 10 in March 2004. Membership now includes major national players from the following sectors: Road Operators Paving Research Government Agencies Equipment Motoring Associations Freight Local Government Construction Engineering Unions
Services
The ARF's Mission
- To advance the efficiency, development and national priority of Australia's road transport system as a major national asset which underpins the social, economic and cultural fabric of the nation.
- To provide an effective and responsible vehicle for contributing to the development of industry and public policy.
- To address issues of national, community and stakeholder interest in relation to road transport, including (but not limited to) infrastructure, safety, innovation, research and management.
- To provide national stakeholder representation at a level consistent with peak bodies in other industries of critical national importance.
ARF members share a strong commitment to the well-being and advancement of Australia's road transport network. As the road transport industry peak body, ARF presents the views of stakeholders to Government and the community. Although ARF does no pursue sectional or political issues in relation to specific sectors or stakeholder groups, it actively represents the "ultimate interests" which its members have in common. These interests embrace the most fundamental issues affecting road transport in Australia.
ARF Policy Objectives
- A national management regime which achieves a joint effort and purpose between governments at federal, state and local levels.
- Infrastructure funding based on a bi-partisan assessment of national needs - with long term planning and financial commitment on a sustainable basis which transcends year to year budget cycles.
- A transparent system of national road accounts for road infrastructure expenditure at all levels of government and the private sector.
- Consistent state reporting
- Within the network the Commonwealth should continue to assume funding responsibility for national roads until an agreed and coordinated regime can be established.
- Increased attention to the maintenance backlog on the existing network.
- Sustained, significant and bi-partisan commitment to research and road safety.
- Programs which support the industry's future workforce needs.
- Mechanism for industry consultation
- International benchmarking
- Enhanced public profile for road transport.
If you wish to make any special requests, modify or cancel your booking please contact Roads Australia directly.