Appendix A: Policy Decisions Taken Since the 2005-06 Budget - Expense Measures

Transport and Regional Services

Australian Rail Track Corporation — increased funding in 2004-2005

Expense ($m)
	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Department of Transport and Regional Services	-	-	-	-

The Government provided a grant of $100.0 million to the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) in 2004‑05 to assist with investment in Australia’s interstate rail network. The funding was allocated to the ARTC for the following projects on the Melbourne-Sydney-Brisbane rail corridor:

$44.0 million to increase railway track performance and reduce the frequency and severity of speed restrictions;
$40.0 million to improve railway clearances, allowing containers to be carried on standard deck-height wagons;
$15.0 million to provide a direct railway connection between the north-south and east-west railway corridors at Tottenham, Melbourne, which will provide transit time savings of around 30 minutes for through-trains; and
$1.0 million to undertake an alignment study to determine the benefits of eliminating the steep gradients in the Liverpool Range crossing.

These projects will improve track performance and reduce long-term maintenance costs on the rail corridor, increasing the competitiveness of freight rail.

Further information can be found in the press release of 5 July 2005 issued by the Minister for Transport and Regional Services.

Aviation security — developing a national training framework

Expense ($m)
	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Department of Transport and Regional Services	1.3	2.3	-	-
Related capital ($m)
Department of Transport and Regional Services	0.3	-	-	-

The Government will provide $3.8 million in 2005-06 and 2006-07 to develop a nationally consistent aviation security training framework, including nationally accredited security training modules.

Aviation industry employees will be able to develop nationally recognised skills and qualifications related to transport security. This will provide operators with competent staff to support the effective and secure operation of transport services to the public.

This measure includes $0.3 million in capital funding in 2005-06 for the development of required computer systems.

This measure forms part of the Government’s response to the Wheeler Report into airport security and policing arrangements.

Further information can be found in the press release of 21 September 2005 issued by the Prime Minister.

Aviation security — improving international outreach

Expense ($m)
	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade	0.6	1.0	0.6	0.3
Department of Transport and Regional Services	0.6	2.0	1.2	1.2
Total	1.2	2.9	1.8	1.5

The Government will provide $8.5 million over five years (including $1.1 million in 2009-10) to strengthen the international aviation security regime.

The Department of Transport and Regional Services will seek to conduct inspections and risk assessments of overseas airports that are last ports of call for flights to Australia. It will also develop and deliver aviation security capacity building activities for regional last port of call countries. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will undertake targeted outreach activities to help encourage an international regime, including stronger controls over man-portable air defence systems.

Aviation security — improving security and crime information exchange

Expense ($m)
	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Department of Transport and Regional Services	3.4	3.9	4.0	4.0
Australian Crime Commission	2.4	8.7	2.7	2.7
Total	5.8	12.6	6.7	6.7
Related capital ($m)
Department of Transport and Regional Services	4.1	-	-	-
Australian Crime Commission	1.1	0.3	-	-
Total	5.2	0.3	-	-

The Government will provide $43.9 million over five years (including $6.8 million in 2009-10) for improved national aviation security and crime information exchange arrangements.

The Australian Crime Commission will establish a new unit to provide regular criminal intelligence assessments for the aviation sector. The Department of Transport and Regional Services will regularly disseminate operational and policy focused analysis on transport security threats to industry. This information will draw on Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and Australian Crime Commission threat assessments.

This measure includes $5.4 million in capital funding in 2005-06 and 2006-07 for the development of required computer, information and communication systems.

This measure forms part of the Government’s response to the Wheeler Report into airport security and policing arrangements.

Further information can be found in the press release of 21 September 2005 issued by the Prime Minister.

Eyre Peninsula — rail upgrade

Expense ($m)
	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Department of Transport and Regional Services	-	-	-	-

The Government committed $15.0 million in 2004-05 towards the costs of upgrading the Eyre Peninsula rail network. The upgrade will improve transport of the region’s grain harvest to port.

The funding was conditional on the remainder of the project’s estimated cost of $30.0 million being funded by contributions from the South Australian Government, industry and local councils.

Further information can be found in the joint press release of 24 June 2005 issued by the Minister for Transport and Regional Services and the South Australian Minister for Transport.

Surface transport security — assessing new technology

Expense ($m)
	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Department of Transport and Regional Services	0.2	0.2	-	-

The Government will provide $0.3 million over two years from 2005-06 for the Department of Transport and Regional Services to undertake an assessment of the potential of new technologies to improve the security of surface transport infrastructure.

Surface transport security — developing a national approach for closed circuit television

Expense ($m)
	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Department of Transport and Regional Services	0.7	-	-	-
Office of the Privacy Commissioner	0.1	-	-	-
Total	0.8	-	-	-

The Government will provide $0.7 million in 2005-06 for the Department of Transport and Regional Services to coordinate the National Counter-Terrorism Committee review of closed circuit television (CCTV) capability and to participate in the development of a national code of practice for the mass passenger transport sector (the code). The Government will provide $0.1 million in 2005-06 to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner to participate in the development of the code.

The code will set protocols and minimum requirements for the use of CCTV systems associated with mass passenger transport. The code will be developed with the States and Territories.

See also the related expense measures titled Aviation security — improving closed circuit television at airports and Aviation security — providing additional closed circuit television cameras and upgrading capabilities in the Attorney-General’s portfolio.

Further information can be found in the press release of 27 September 2005 issued by the Prime Minister.

Surface transport security — enhancement

Expense ($m)
	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Department of Transport and Regional Services	0.2	0.5	0.3	-

The Government will provide $1.0 million over three years from 2005-06, to implement the recommendations of the National Counter-Terrorism Committee for enhancing the security of surface-based mass passenger transport.

The Australian Government will work with the States and Territories and surface transport owners and operators in monitoring the effectiveness of screening in a mass transit environment, contributing to increased public and staff security awareness, incorporating land based transport requirements in counter‑terrorism exercises and improving precinct security.