The Federal Government is establishing an Office of Future Transport Technologies to prepare for automated vehicles and other transport innovations.
A $9.7 million investment has been made into the initiative to enhance the Federal Government’s strategic leadership role and to coordinate cohesively with other governments and agencies to implement new transport technology into Australia.
One of the focuses of the new Office will be to improve transport and road safety outcomes while developing automated vehicle technologies.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said Australian governments and industry is taking proactive steps to manage the associated challenges and opportunities within the evolving future transport landscape.
“The Australian future transport and mobility industry is expected generate more than $16 billion in revenue by 2025,” Mr McCormack said.
“While representing an emerging business opportunity for the national economy, these technologies also have great potential to reduce the $27 billion cost of road crashes in Australia each year.
“These advances can also help to reduce the significant social impacts that road deaths and injuries have on families and the wider community,” he said.
Mr McCormack said he wanted to ensure these new technologies are deployed in a manner which improves safety, productivity, accessibility and liveability for Australians in both urban and regional areas.
“The establishment of an Office of Future Transport Technologies within my Department will enable the Australian Government to work with industry and State and Territory Governments to ensure Australia is ready for the challenges and opportunities ahead,” he said.
“I expect the Office to collaborate across governments to ensure automated vehicles are safe, to consider future infrastructure needs, to make sure cyber security safeguards are in place, and to support Australian businesses in taking advantage of new commercial opportunities.
“While some of this work has already started, we will see the Office of Future Transport Technologies ramping up over the next few months to coordinate Australia’s responses to the challenges ahead.”
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