We provide a collaborative place for industry public and private sectors to work together towards a better transport system for Australia.
We work towards a better transport system by bringing a solutions-focused, partnership approach to policy development and implementation.
We facilitate and curate important conversations, creating opportunities for industry and government to come together to work towards mutually beneficial outcomes.
National policy priorities
Accelerating Australia’s Road Safety Goals – September 2024 Report
In August 2024, more than 100 participants from 40 public and private sector organisations spanning engineering, construction, government and research sectors came together to discuss what can be done to reduce road trauma.
Three recommendations stand out from the group’s many observations and insights:
- Improving road safety design knowledge across the design community, and upskilling designers of road infrastructure to develop safer infrastructure that reduces trauma. This includes increasing the effective use of smart technology and utilising real-time data and insights.
- Evolving design standards to ensure local and global best practice is incorporated into minimum standards.
- Managing energy on the road network by matching speed limits to the availability and function of road infrastructure to reduce the impact of a crash.
Managing these outcomes during road infrastructure maintenance and renewal programs, as well as during project delivery, is key. As is supporting government prioritisation and funding for effective interventions that will assist in reducing road trauma.
Read the report
National Decarbonising Transport Summit Report
Together with the Public Transport Association Australia New Zealand (PTAANZ), and the Australasian Railway Association (ARA), and supported by Arup, Roads Australia convened a National Decarbonisation Transport Summit in Canberra on 26 June 2024, bringing together more than 500 public and private sector organisations in Australia’s transport sector.
This Report summarises outcomes from the Summit, identifying immediate and actionable reforms for government and industry to act upon across the planning, funding and building stages of major projects. These outcomes are split across the following three key areas:
- A mode shift first approach, to encourage more people to use public and active transport more often
- Accelerating an equitable transition to zero emission vehicles and rollingstock
- Consistently and adequately assessing whole of life carbon.
‘Raising the bar’ National Road Worker Safety Action Plan
Our Road Worker Safety Working Group has endorsed the ‘Raising the bar’ National Road Worker Safety Action Plan to eliminate death and serious injuries caused by passing traffic on road work sites across Australia.
The Plan encourages the adoption of procurement incentives and innovations to exceed minimum safety standards and eliminate death and serious injuries to road workers.
The Action Plan has been developed and endorsed by 12 RA members and will be delivered in collaboration with partner peak bodies.
National Road Worker Safety Action Plan
Procurement Reform Report Update: Momentum for a sustainable transport sector
RA’s Procurement Reform Report Update: Momentum for a sustainable transport sector contains 28 recommendations for reform across core areas of procurement that are designed to foster collaboration, promote innovation, manage risks more effectively and help build a stronger, more diverse workforce for the sector.
It builds on the reform ideas first put forward in RA’s Procurement Reform Report: Recommendations and Strategies in September 2020 and adapts them to reflect prevailing market conditions, as industry grapples with challenges that include supply chain disruptions, high inflation and a tightening labour market.
Read the report
2022 CEO’s Workshop Report
This report sets out the priority actions identified by participants in the 2022 CEO’s Workshop and is being used to design the work program for RA’s five policy streams for 2022/23.
The actions identified are also being used by RA to connect better with industry, government, and the communities that we serve.
Download the report
The journey to net-zero
The journey to net-zero – Inspiring climate action in the Australian transport sector was delivered as part of an industry-first partnership between the Australasian Railway Association (ARA), Infrastructure Sustainability Council (ISC) and Roads Australia (RA), and includes 46 recommendations to accelerate decarbonisation in the sector.
The report, authored by KPMG and sponsored by Arup, analysed local and global examples of leading best practice, and features 29 case studies demonstrating existing technology and strategies for carbon reduction.
Download the report
2021 Update: The Value of Australia’s Roads
Roads Australia has commissioned research which highlights the growing importance of roads to our economy and our community.
Undertaken by BIS Oxford Economics, this study updates the 2019 report, “The Economic Impact of Australia’s Roads”, and includes an expanded discussion of the economic benefits of the road network in the context of the strong program of upcoming government investment.
Download the study
2021 CEO’s Workshop Report
RA’s CEO’s Workshop each year brings together senior leaders from the public and private sector to sit down and collaboratively identify opportunities for RA to develop policy solutions to challenges now confronting our industry.
The Report from the 2021 CEO’s Workshop held on 16 June in Sydney is now available.
Download the 2021 CEO’s Workshop Report
Roads Australia Procurement Reform Report
Released in September 2020, the Roads Australia Procurement Reform Report identifies significant opportunities for improvement in the way we plan and deliver transport infrastructure projects.
The Report was developed through an extensive engagement with national and regional industry stakeholders across engineering and design consulting firms, project managers, legal and commercial advisors, government agencies, and construction and related services companies.
The Report makes 22 recommendations to be pursued in order to ensure that governments get best value for money and industry gets the best use of its capital and people.
Read the report