Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate take note of the document.

I draw the Senate’s attention to the Australian Rail Track Corporation’s statement of corporate intent, to highlight some advances in a sector of the transport industry which is not often considered. Senators will know that the Australian Rail Track Corporation Ltd is a company whose shares are totally owned by the Australian government and overseen by the Minister for Finance and Administration and the Minister for Transport and Regional Services. Since 1998 ARTC has managed the interstate rail network between Albury and Broken Hill in the east and Kalgoorlie in the west. The ARTC has also effected a wholesale agreement with Westnet Rail that enables it to provide a one-stop shop for interstate network access from Kalgoorlie to Perth. In September 2004 the ARTC commenced a 60-year lease of the interstate and Hunter Valley rail networks in New South Wales. I did want to highlight the freight market and several other things, but I will have to continue later. I seek leave to continue my remarks later.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.