The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) has welcomed the Federal Government’s $7.8 million investment in a Transport and Infrastructure Net Zero Roadmap and Action Plan to support the decarbonisation of the transport and infrastructure sectors.
ARA chief executive officer Caroline Wilkie said continued investment in sustainable transport systems was critical to achieving net zero targets and will drive the economy and benefit the wider community.
“Rail will be at the heart of emissions reduction strategies for the transport sector and the ARA looks forward to working with the newly formed Net Zero Authority to support the advancement of Australia’s decarbonisation efforts,” she said.
“We are also pleased to see a focus on developing crucial sustainability skills for the future, as well as helping businesses to engage with net zero transformation opportunities.”
Budget papers say the Roadmap and Action Plan aims to present an integrated approach to advance the reduction of emissions across transport modes, alternative fuel, new technology and enabling infrastructure.
The Budget funds the establishment of the Net Zero Authority, with responsibility for promoting the orderly and positive economic transformation associated with achieving net zero emissions. It will work across all levels of government and with workers, companies, investors, and communities to facilitate economic development and diversification and help smooth the changes as Australia moves to a clean energy economy.
The Authority will also ensure workers are supported as they transition to new opportunities and support First Nations Australians to meaningfully participate, and will include a focus on the regions, industries and workers that have traditionally powered Australia’s economy. As some industries adapt and transition, the Authority will work to ensure new industries come online, and workers, communities and regions are supported.
The allocations for the Authority and development of the roadmap, in addition to funding to advance the country’s renewable energy sector and support a focus on placemaking, reflected the importance of a strong focus on sustainability to drive the country’s future.
Welcoming another initiative, Wilkie said the $0.4 million commitment to enable the National Transport Commission to progress the rail interoperability work plan would be critical for the industry.
“The ARA has been working closely with the NTC over the past three years on the National Rail Action Plan, with interoperability being a critical component. It is essential that the NTC is appropriately resourced to progress this work, given its importance to the future of the rail industry,” she said.
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