What it does
The Transport Co-ordination Act 1966 establishes a comprehensive framework for the coordination, planning and regulation of transport services across Western Australia. Its objects, set out in s. 3, are expressly to coordinate resources used for transport services, ensure reliable, efficient and economic services for the people of the State, rationalise services through licensing and other measures, reduce or eliminate controls where they no longer contribute to those goals, and facilitate policy formulation. These objects, inserted by the Acts Amendment and Repeal (Transport Co-ordination) Act 1985 s. 6, fundamentally re-oriented the statute from its narrower 1966 origins.
At its core the Act creates administrative machinery in Part II. Section 6 establishes the Transport Co-ordination Ministerial Body as a body corporate with perpetual succession that is governed by the Minister and acts as an agent of the State. Sections 6A and 7 detail its purpose, execution of documents (including use of a common seal attested by the Minister) and authorisation mechanisms for the Director General or others to sign on its behalf. The Minister may join bodies concerned with transport research (s. 7A), establish Transport Strategy Committees to advise on policy (s. 7B), and the Director General may utilise staff from other public authorities (s. 8). Financial management is brought under the Financial Management Act 2006 and Auditor General Act 2006 (s. 9), while borrowing powers are conferred on the Minister with Treasurer approval and guarantees (s. 10).
The Director General’s functions are enumerated in s. 15B and include maintaining an overview of transport services, recommending coordination measures, reporting on policy and trends, assisting transport agencies with planning, advising on funds, undertaking or commissioning research, assisting the Minister, advising on the Public Transport Authority Act 2003, and carrying out any other directed duties. The Minister may provide facilities for vehicle movement (s. 15C), appoint stopping places for passenger transport vehicles (s. 15D), call tenders for transport services with or without subsidies (s. 16), and impose conditions on tenders including performance bonds (s. 17). A report by the Director General is required before any Bill for railway construction or closure (s. 18A).