Transport and Communication outlays support the infrastructure and regulatory framework of Australia's transport and communications sectors. Outlays are provided in the form of grants, specific purpose payments, running costs, loans and advances and are offset by recoveries and repayments. The largest component of outlays relates to specific purpose payments to State governments for the construction and maintenance of the National Highway System and the construction of other roads of national importance.

Outlays relating to cultural activities and the administration of communications programmes of the Communications and the Arts portfolio are included in 8. Recreation and Culture. Outlays relating to the regional development and local government activities of the Transport and Regional Development portfolio are included in 7. Housing and Community Amenities and 14B. General Purpose Inter-Government Transactions respectively.

This function includes outlays of the following portfolios:

• Communications and the Arts;
• Transport and Regional Development; and
• Workplace Relations and Small Business.

The decline in outlays since 1992-93 reflects the completion of a number of major transport programmes and the untying of specific purpose road grants (comprising outlays of $350 million per annum) from 1 January 1994. As a result of untying the specific purpose road grants, these outlays were reclassified under function 14B. General Purpose Inter-Government Transactions.

The increase in the Land Transport component of outlays in 1996-97 predominantly reflects funding for the sale and winding up of the Australian National Railways Commission.

Estimated outlays for all components of Transport and Communications are expected to decline slightly over the period 1998-99 to 2001-02.

The Communication subfunction includes the operations of the Australian Communications Authority (ACA) and grants from the Regional Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund.

The above estimates do not include outlays for broadcasting activities, other than for radiocommunications. Broadcasting activities are covered in 8. Recreation and Culture.

Planning and regulation (apart from competition regulation) of the communications industry is currently undertaken by the Department of Communications and the Arts, and the ACA. Competition regulation of the industry is the responsibility of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. The ACA also undertakes radiocommunications spectrum planning and administration including the allocation of spectrum.

The development, implementation and enforcement of aviation safety standards is undertaken by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The Bureau of Air Safety Investigation is responsible for air safety investigations and associated research action and where appropriate, making recommendations to rectify any deficiencies. Search and rescue services previously provided by Airservices Australia (Airservices) were transferred to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority in 1997-98.

Industry's contribution to aviation safety regulation is made through fees and charges, and customs duty and excise on aviation turbine fuel and aviation gasoline. Airservices receives a component of aviation gasoline duty as a contribution to the recovery of the costs of enroute and terminal navigation services from the general aviation sector. (See also Excise Duty in Statement 5.)

Heavy vehicles engaged solely in interstate trade may be registered under the Federal Interstate Registration Scheme (FIRS), which is administered by the Department of Transport and Regional Development under the Interstate Road Transport Act 1985. All revenue is returned to the States and Territories for maintenance and construction of interstate roads and is distributed according to a Ministerial determination based on annual kilometres travelled by FIRS vehicles in each State and Territory. The Commonwealth has agreed to review the future of FIRS from the time when all States and Territories have the National Registration Scheme in place.

The major component of this item is a contribution for the remediation of road safety black spots through assistance to State and local governments.

This item includes funding for the Petroleum Products Freight Subsidy Scheme (PPFSS). The PPFSS was previously classified under function 13.C. Other Economic Affairs, NEC.

The Government has sold most businesses and assets of the Australian National Railways Commission with the exception of the interstate track. The interstate track is to be transferred to the newly formed Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) with a provision that the Alice Springs to Tarcoola line will be made available to any successful proponent of an Alice Springs to Darwin line.

To ensure open access to the interstate rail network for current and potential operators, the Government negotiated arrangements with the States and others over access, including the establishment of the ARTC. Concurrent with the establishment of the ARTC the Commonwealth proposes, subject to adequate progress on harmonisation issues, to contribute to the upgrade of the interstate mainline rail track.

Maritime Services includes funding for the Australian Maritime Safety Authority's (AMSA) search and rescue and related activities. Its marine navigation and ship safety activities and capital needs are funded from industry levies. During 1997-98, aviation search and rescue, which was previously undertaken by Airservices, was transferred to AMSA.

This item includes expenditure under the previous Government's shipping industry reforms that have now terminated. While eligibility under the Ships (Capital Grants Act) 1987 terminated in 1996-97, expenditure is expected to be completed by 1997-98.

Included in this item are the costs of administering relevant programmes in the Transport and Regional Development and the Communications and the Arts portfolios.