Austroads Strategic Plan promises more transparency

Austroads has released its 2016–2020 Strategic Plan, which the organisation claims repositions itself for a strong, relevant and sustainable future.

The plan outlines Austroads’ purpose and role, operating principles, strategic environment, and programs and priorities. It promises to reduce the number of projects it manages each year and to employ a more responsive and agile approach to project management and delivery. Greater transparency in the development and purchasing of research contracts is on the agenda, which will see new contracts being open to competitive tender, where appropriate.

The strategic plan makes specific reference to The National Exchange of Vehicle and Driver Information System (NEVDIS), which is a customer service system owned by Austroads on behalf of the eight Australian states and territories. Its primary purpose is to share vehicle and driver information between jurisdictions. It is regarded as an essential tool for preventing fraud and theft by ensuring ‘one vehicle, one Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)’ and ‘one person, one driver licence’.

The report states that it is imperative that national privacy laws are adhered to with the use of any information in the NEVDIS database and that existing commercial arrangements will be standardised and opportunities to develop products will be pursued to negate the need for future jurisdictional funding.

For a full copy of the plan, go to the Austroads website.