The ARA appreciates the Productivity Commission’s request for feedback on the interim report. The Productivity Commission has been tasked with identifying the highest priority reform areas under five key pillars with the potential to boost Australia’s productivity growth. One of these pillars is investing in cheaper, cleaner energy and the net zero transformation, which has been identified as an area of opportunity to not only enable gains in productivity and living standards, but also as an avenue to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with national and global ambitions and targets.

The rail industry provides an inherently sustainable, low emissions mode of transport for both freight and passenger services. One commuter train has the capacity to take 578 personal vehicles off the road. In the freight sector, rail freight generates 16 times less greenhouse gas emissions than road freight, despite transporting more than half of Australia’s national freight task.

The ARA is pleased to provide our feedback on the draft recommendations in the Productivity Commission’s interim report, alongside identification of opportunities for the rail industry to support and enable the Productivity Commission’s objectives of identifying affordable net zero solutions for Australia’s transport sector.

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