Action for Public Transport (N.S.W.) Inc.

Sydney Ferries to be corporatised

posted Sunday 4 January 2004

The Transport Services Minister, Michael Costa, has announced that the operation of Sydney Ferries is to be separated from the State Transit Authority, which currently runs Sydney's government-owned buses and ferries. The state-owned Sydney Ferries Corporation will take over ferry operations from July 2004.

There is also to be a new ferries consultative committee which will advise the corporation on passenger related issues. The Minister informed the Legislative Council on 23 December 2003 that the committee would comprise representatives from the Ministry of Transport, Action for Public Transport, the Australian Consumers Association, the Federation of Parents and Citizens' Associations, the disabled advocacy sector, and three ferry-serviced Councils. The CEO of Sydney Ferries is to meet with the committee at least four times per year. The committee will report directly to the minister.

Another advisory group, with representatives from private ferry interests and the Waterways Authority, will look at competitive neutrality and the commercial relationships between Sydney Ferries and private ferry and charter operators. This group is to report to the minister by 31 March 2004.

(Ref. - Legislative Council - Transport Administration Amendment (Sydney Ferries) Bill - Second Reading - Debate resumed from 19 November 2003)

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