The department provides strategic leadership and coordination to enable the safe and legal deployment of emerging road transport technologies to enhance social, environmental and economic well-being for all Australians. We do this through:
Policy leadership
We work with state and territory governments, the National Transport Commission and Austroads to support nationally harmonised approaches to technology deployments. A national approach means governments and industry work together under shared principles, priorities and policy approaches, so new transport technologies are introduced safely, consistently and in a way that works across state and territory borders. This approach helps Australia leverage the benefits of emerging technologies, including improved road safety, road productivity, environmental sustainability, traffic congestion, journey times, transport equity, and the liveability of communities.
Learn more:
- National Road Transport Technology Strategy and the 2024–27 National Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) Action Plan.
- Principles for a National Approach to Co-operative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS) in Australia
Regulatory stewardship
We develop and maintain rules that support the safe deployment of road transport technologies while protecting the community’s expectations around safety, security, privacy and accessibility.
This includes our work with other Australian governments and the National Transport Commission to establish a national framework for regulating the safety of automated vehicles, at their point of entry to the Australian market (‘first supply’) and when they are used on Australian roads (‘in service’).
Research and trials
We invest in research and support national trials to better understand the impacts, benefits and requirements of new transport technologies. This includes work on connected and automated vehicles, communications technologies, accessibility, safety, and physical and digital infrastructure.
Parties interested undertaking automated vehicle trials should consult the Guidelines for trials of automated vehicles in Australia which is available from the National Transport Commission website.
Learn more: Research and trials
International engagement
We participate in international forums including APEC, the International Transport Forum and the United Nations’ Global Forum for Road Traffic Safety (WP.1) and the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29). We also manage partnerships and agreements that support knowledge sharing and collaboration, including Australia’s Memorandum of Understanding with Michigan on automotive technology cooperation. These efforts ensure that our transport policy settings remain aligned with international best practice and that Australia benefits from innovation and emerging land transport technologies.
Learn more: International engagement