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  • Transport reform

    Transport reform

    • NTC projects

      Our work aims to achieve our strategic objectives of improved safety, productivity, regulatory efficiency and environmental outcomes across land transport.

    • Automated vehicle program

      Our goal is end-to-end regulation to support the safe commercial deployment and operation of automated vehicles at all levels of automation in Australia.

    • Towards a new Heavy Vehicle National Law

      We're working on behalf of transport ministers to deliver an updated Heavy Vehicle National Law in Australia. The goal is to simplify the law to enhance safety while delivering industry productivity and flexibility. Consultation is now open.

    • Light vehicle emissions intensity in Australia

      Our ‘Light Vehicle Emissions Intensity in Australia: Trends Over Time,’ report provides the most detailed analysis of vehicle emissions trends ever published in Australia.

    • National Rail Action Plan

      The National Rail Action Plan and current work program support a national vision for a modernised, seamless and safe rail system.

    • Progress on reforms

      Each year, we share a progress report with infrastructure and transport ministers on the status of national land transport reforms.

    • National Transport Reforms Evaluation Framework

      The Evaluation Framework will be used to understand the outcomes of national land transport reform, while enabling us to provide evidence-based advice to the Transport Ministers.

  • Codes and guidelines

    Codes and guidelines

    • Load restraint guides for light vehicles

      Read the relevant load restraint guide to ensure you meet load restraint standards for light and heavy vehicles in Australia.

    • Australian Dangerous Goods Code

    • Assessing Fitness to Drive

      Assessing Fitness to Drive contains the nationally-agreed medical standards for granting a driver's licence.

    • National Standard for Health Assessment of Rail Safety Workers

      The National Standard for Health Assessment of Rail Safety Workers (the Standard) provides a structured, evidence-based method for assessing and managing medical conditions that may impact a rail safety worker’s ability to perform their duties safely.

    • Automated vehicle trial guidelines

      These guidelines support nationally-consistent trial conditions at all levels of automation.

    • National voluntary guidelines for landside stevedore charges

      The national voluntary guidelines for landside stevedore charges establish clear protocols for notification and communication on increases to existing, or the introduction of new, charges levied on transport operators.

  • Laws and regulations

    Laws and regulations

    • Heavy Vehicle National Law

      The Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) regulates heavy vehicles over 4.5 tonnes gross vehicle mass in participating states and territories.

    • Rail Safety National Law

      The Rail Safety National Law aims for a seamless and coordinated national approach to rail safety regulation in Australia.

    • Australian Road Rules

    • Australian Light Vehicle Standards Rules

      The Australian Light Vehicle Standards Rules are model rules that regulate in-service vehicle standards for light vehicles. They form the basis for each state and territory to implement in their own vehicle standards rules.

    • Australian Defence Force Road Transport Exemption Framework

      The Framework provides nationally-uniform exemptions for the use of ADF military vehicles and equipment on public roads.

    • Heavy Vehicle Charges Model Law

      The Heavy Vehicle Charges Model Law sets registration charges for heavy vehicles and defines the methodology for calculating annual adjustments.

    • Registration charges for heavy vehicles

      Heavy vehicle charges aim to recover heavy vehicle related expenditure on roads from heavy vehicle operators.

    • Road user charges

      The Road User Charge (RUC) applies to each litre of diesel used by heavy vehicles such as buses, coaches and trucks on public roads.

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Supporting a new national approach for rail

Published  02 Jun 2025

The NTC is working with industry and governments on a one-system approach to rail in Australia. This includes introducing Australia’s first mandatory rail standards and other national standards that have been prioritised to support rail harmonisation as well as governance arrangements to oversee their development and adoption. A national approach to rail will drive consistency across networks helping to lift safety, improve capacity, reduce costs, support local manufacturing and create a skilled, mobile workforce.

Meeting future rail skills demand

Published  02 Jun 2025

The modernisation of rail is leading to exciting new roles in the sector. Through the National Rail Action Plan (NRAP), we are working with governments, industry and the education sector to identify the new skillsets that rail needs. Together, we’re building nationally recognised pathways to these skills and supporting ways to grow a bigger, more diverse cohort of rail workers to meet future skills demand.

Consistent rules and streamlined processes

Published  02 Jun 2025

Australia’s rail networks have 12 separate rule books and many different standards and processes. This affects safety, drives up costs and limits the mobility of the rail workforce. Through the National Rail Action Plan (NRAP), we are working with industry to establish a streamlined rolling stock approvals process and more consistent ways of working. This will make our rail system simpler, safer and better able to get new trains running and attract and train skilled workers.

Aligning digital technology across networks

Published  02 Jun 2025

New digital signalling and communications technologies are changing the way rail operates. Through the National Rail Action Plan (NRAP), the NTC is working with industry and governments to make sure digital train control systems can work together, making rail safer and more efficient so rail can play a bigger role in our transport system.

National Rail Action Plan newsletter: May 2025

Published  30 May 2025

NTC Webinar – Mandatory standards for digital train control technology

Code of Conduct

Published  02 May 2025

The Code of Conduct sets out the standard of conduct required of NTC employees.

National Rail Action Plan newsletter: March 2025

Published  02 May 2025

Growing momentum for a single integrated rail system

National Rail Action Plan newsletter: April 2025

Published  02 May 2025

Stakeholder feedback will help make it easier to get new trains runningAustralian governments want to get more freight on rail to reduce road congestion, improve safety and help the country reach emissions targets.

Artificial Intelligence Transparency Statement

Published  28 Apr 2025

The National Transport Commission (NTC) adopts the Australian Government's Policy for the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in gov

Improving health screening for heavy vehicle drivers

Published  20 Mar 2025

The NTC is identifying options to improve the diagnosis and screening of sleep apnoea, diabetes and cardiac risk levels to support heavy vehicle operators and drivers manage the risks posed by ill health.  

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The NTC acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia and acknowledge their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the elders past, present and emerging.

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