The National Transport Commission Act 2003 (NTC Act) and the Inter-Governmental Agreement for Regulatory and Operational Reform in Road, Rail and Intermodal Transport (the IGA) establish the NTC, our role and purpose.

The NTC Act establishes the NTC and provides it with an ongoing responsibility to develop, monitor and maintain uniform or nationally consistent regulatory and operational reforms relating to road transport, rail transport and intermodal transport. The NTC Act also provides a mechanism for the making of regulations, in accordance with the IGA.

The primary objective of the IGA is to improve transport productivity, efficiency, safety and environmental performance and regulatory efficiency in a uniform or nationally consistent manner. The IGA sets out in more detail the ongoing responsibilities and functions of the NTC to achieve this objective, including to:

• develop uniform or nationally consistent regulatory and operational arrangements for road, rail and intermodal transport
• develop road use charging principles for heavy vehicles and proposed reforms in relation to Heavy Vehicle Road Use Charges based on charging principles agreed by the Council
• monitor implementation of agreed reforms and regularly report on these to the Council
• maintain and review agreed reforms
• recommend other matters to the Council that will promote the objectives of the IGA and undertake any other responsibilities and functions that are determined by the Council.

The Council determines the NTC's four-yearly program of work and provides further direction and guidance to the NTC through its:

• Statement of Expectations for the NTC: The statement outlines the Council’s expectations concerning the operations and performance of the NTC.
• Performance Based Framework: The framework contains outputs and timing for the Council to consider and monitor the NTC’s Corporate Plan, program of work and budget each year.
• Strategic Work Programme: This programme outlines the Council’s four reform priorities and the key activities/projects to achieve these reform priorities.