Following a 2018 review of national transport bodies, Austroads has acquired a government association responsible for the accreditation and administration of telematics and intelligent technologies.
The decision for Austroads to own Transport Certification Australia (TCA) was made by the Transport and Infrastructure Council (TIC).
Chair of Austroads and Director of TCA, Neil Scales, said, “I am pleased to advise that Transport Certification Australia Ltd has been acquired by Austroads Ltd. This will enable a better use of resources and expertise from both businesses into the future.”
TIC recognised the essential role TCA performs in the provision of advisory services, development and implementation of programs and their associated administration, including management of the National Telematics Framework– the government-endorsed digital business platform to create and utilise telematics applications.
Importantly, TIC recognised how the use of telematics and related intelligent technologies will continue to support surface-based transport reforms now and into the future.
TCA’s Chief Executive Officer, Chris Koniditsiotis, said, “It is important to emphasise that the decision made by Council for TCA to be owned by Austroads does not change TCA’s role and function.
“Nor does it change TCA’s accountability to manage an open technology market on behalf of Australia’s road transport agencies and regulators, to support a growing number of applications for light and heavy vehicles with different levels of assurance.
“TCA will continue as a separate corporate entity reporting through its newly established Board, and will continue to lead by interacting with three distinct stakeholders groups: producers of applications (including government agencies and regulators which set policies and programs using telematics); consumers and users of applications; and providers of applications (which deliver telematics products and services in response to Producers and Consumers).
Mr Koniditsiotis said there is significant work already underway by TCA with Australia’s road transport agencies and the transport and technology sectors to implement 16 initiatives contained in the approved business case.
“This includes: new applications of the National Telematics Framework, including the Road Infrastructure Management (RIM) application (Level 1 assurance) and ‘IAP Lite’ application (Level 2 assurance); new features which can be used across applications of the National Telematics Framework (such as turn-by-turn navigation and real-time alerts); and enhancements to existing Level 3 applications to improve efficiency and reduce costs.”
Austroads’ Chief Executive, Nick Koukoulas, said, “The ownership of TCA will bring a number of synergies and efficiencies to both businesses and will help accelerate a number of projects underway.”
