Transport Safety a Focus of Australia-Indonesia Cooperation

Forty Indonesian rail accident investigators commenced training today as part of ongoing cooperation between Australia and Indonesian Government agencies to improve transport safety in Indonesia.

The training was welcomed by Mr Michael Taylor, Secretary of the Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, who will officially welcome participants of the Rail Transport Safety Investigation course tomorrow in Jakarta.

“In January 2008, the Australian Minister for Infrastructure, Anthony Albanese, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Indonesian Minister for Transportation, Jusman Syafi’i Djamal in Jakarta, which provided the basis for a $24 million bilateral package of assistance over three years,” Mr Taylor said.

“This package has extended co-operative relations with the Government of Indonesia and is producing results. I am confident that the participants from the Indonesian National Transport Safety Committee and other rail sectors will benefit enormously from this course.”

This project will provide the Indonesian National Transport Safety Committee (NTSC) and selected rail industry safety professionals with a 5-day training course that will enhance their knowledge of investigative processes for investigators and stakeholders involved in the rail transport sector. It will also equip rail industry safety professionals to effectively interact with NTSC investigators to ensure safety action early in the investigation process.

This project is one of several activities being developed under the Indonesia Transport Safety Assistance Package. Other activities underway include:

Aircraft and Aerodrome Safety Inspector mentoring;
Improving air traffic management services in Indonesia;
Provision of expertise and guidance in order to enhance Indonesia’s capacity to undertake investigations of other transport accidents; and
Marine safety training, search and rescue cooperation and ferry safety.

Media are invited to cover the Official Welcome for course participants on:

Date: Tuesday 28 October 2008
Time: 2pm – 3pm
Venue: Jayakarta Room, Level 4, Hotel Sari Pan Pacific Jakarta

Media Enquiries:
Jenny Dee, Counsellor (Public Affairs) tel. (021) 2550 5290 mob. 0811 187 3175