Parliamentary Committee Begins Public Hearings Into Social Issues Relating To Driverless Vehicles
Tuesday 7 March 2017 @ 11.11 a.m. | Legal Research
The Standing Committee on Industry, Innovation Science and Resources is beginning a series of public hearings on its inquiry into the social issues relating to land-based driverless vehicles. The Committee held its first hearing in Canberra on 1 March 2017, and will be holding hearings in other state capitals over the next few months. The inquiry was commenced on 30 November 2016 by Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, the Hon Darren Chester MP, and is expected to report by September 2017.
Committee Chair Michelle Landry MP said in a press release:
“Testing of driverless vehicles has begun here in Australia and in many other countries around the world. It is time to consider not just the technological developments but importantly the social issues that will impact all Australians in the near future. Driverless vehicles have the potential to significantly improve road safety, environment outcomes, and productivity of the economy while also assisting people with mobility issues.”
The Committee is still accepting submissions to the inquiry, and more details are available on its website.
Terms of Reference
The Committee has been tasked with inquiring into and reporting on:
- What social issues are relevant-such as:
- general social acceptance levels
- passenger and non-passenger safety
- legal responsibility and insurance
- potential impacts on employment and different industry sectors (such as the taxi industry)
- access and equity issues (such as increasing individual mobility for the elderly and people with disabilities)
- potential public transport applications
- How each social issue is being handled- including the opportunities and challenges for each issue
- Recommendations to progress action on the social issues identified
The Committee has also been asked to have regard to:
- non-social aspects relating to driverless vehicles - such as regulatory status, infrastructure, technological readiness, data management and cyber security issues
- the experience of other jurisdictions and nations
- how Australia might best position itself to contribute to global driverless vehicle initiatives
- the respective roles of the Australian government, the Australian Parliament, other jurisdictions and other stakeholders
- how issues identified from this inquiry might inform work on other emerging technologies
Public Hearings Schedule
Upcoming hearings are being held in Canberra (March 22), Perth (April 3), Melbourne (April 11), Adelaide (April 12), Brisbane (May 3) and Sydney (May 4). For more information, see the Committee homepage.
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