As most ABC readers would already be aware this years BIC Conference is being held in Canberra during a Parliamentary Sitting Week to make sure that our Federal politicians clearly understand that the Bus and Coach Industry is an important industry and that we can with our passenger make a difference to election results. This is particularly the case in marginal federal electorates which interestingly enough tend to have poor public transport services. Just look at the outer metropolitan electorates around our capital cities to see who is missing out on effective and efficient public transport services to meet their mobility needs. These marginal electorates are also the mortgage belt of Australia and have greater distances to drive to get to work and to services. Interest rates, fuel prices and alternative travel options to the car have an interesting relationship, and one that I might suggest should not be underestimated by any of our politicians, Federal or State.

That is not to say that people in our regional and remote areas are not suffering as well.

Social isolation and exclusion in these areas is becoming more pronounced in rural Australia as the centralization of services to major regional centers has occurred over time. Rising fuel prices are having their effect in the country. People who do not have access to a car in regional and remote Australia are socially disadvantaged as their mobility requirements are not being met in many circumstances and access to alternative transport services is limited. This restricts their accessibility to employment, education health services and recreational and social activities. Rising fuel prices are effecting country peoples capacity to run and afford a car and the result of this is an increase in social isolation and exclusion.

Part of the answer here is for Governments to ensure that the mobility needs of Australians in our cities and the country are being met. At present we have no National Strategy about how we move people in this country. In fact Australia’s transport policies and systems promote our over reliance on the car. We are now in a situation where the affordability of the car is exposing the lack of strategic focus that both the Commonwealth and State Governments have had on ensuring that real alternatives are available to people when they make travel choices.

Now is the time for some real vision from our political leaders to look at how we move people today and in the future in the context of increasing road congestion, rising fuel prices, an ageing population, a moving coastal demographic and centralization of regional service to name a few. Surely we need a holistic policy approach to transport and not just focus on freight at the National level.

The Conference program does have a strong political focus this year. Warren Truss, Minister for Transport and Regional Services has agreed to provide a key note address to open the Conference on Monday morning and Kerry O’Brien his counterpart for the Opposition will provide the ALP position to open our Conference on Tuesday morning.

It is very important that we are able to have as many people on the Conference room floor as possible for these sessions.

As mentioned previously we have invited the Prime Minister and I am still hopeful he will be able to attend. We have also invited Senator Ian Campbell Minister for Environment and Heritage to participate in a session tilted "Energy, Oil and Climate Change where are we Heading". This session will look at the challenges of rising oil prices, oil as a depleting resource, other energy options and what is happening in regard climate change. We have also asked the Minister to formally launch the BIC developed Environmental Management System; (EMS) to assist operators put in place a comprehensive Environmental Management plan in their business which includes the required record keeping for the Fuel Tax Credits Scheme. Every delegate will receive a free copy of the EMS.

Malcolm Turnbull, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister has also been invited to speak on his vision for Australian Cities. Mr. Turnbull has been reported in the media over the past months in relation to the transport and other challenges that our cities are faced with and will no doubt be an engaging and interesting presentation from a very fast rising star in the Liberal ranks.

We will also have a look at some Industry research that BIC has undertaken into what the electorate thinks about public transport and Governments role which will form an important part of our lobbying exercise running into the next Federal election.

But it is not all politics the Conference is also looking at practical business and management sessions and includes an up to date look at what is going on with contracts internationally and here in Australia. Accreditation and compliance and how to comply in a changing world where the onus is really on the operator to prove that he is doing what the contract says and what he is supposed to do. This will involve an update on the new driving hour and chain of responsibility laws being proposed by the National Transport Commission and a panel session of representatives from each State that will look at what is happening in regard to levels of participation in accreditation schemes, levels of enforcement including audit requirements, on road enforcement , inspection arrangements, how the informal sector ( operate commercially without any accreditation), school owned and community transport services are managed in the context of accreditation and there views on a national accreditation regime.

Mick Palmer former head of the Australian Federal Police and now Inspector of Transport Security and Chairman of the Prime Ministers Security and Terrorism Taskforce will provide a "Factual Assessment of Bus Transport Security" after an extensive International investigation after the London bombings.

Other session will look at "Ticketing and Are we Getting Right" and will look at each of the systems being delivered in the States , the challenges that are being presented in delivering an integrated ticketing system and how issues such as concessions and various fares policies are being handled or impacting on the systems implementation.

A session will focus on tour and charter and tourism and challenges and opportunities facing that sector of the Industry. And we will once again here from one of Australia’s leading marketing professionals Mr. John Lees who will provide an insight into Industry and Business leadership and build on the very well received presentation from last year.

Don’t forget about the social program and the partners program. This years events are being held in the major attractions in Canberra. The Great Hall in Parliament House, (Mercedes-Benz Gala dinner) the Australian War Memorial (Volvo Cocktail party) and the nations capital latest major attraction the National Museum (Scania and ABCUA dinner). The entertainment is great and you will have great opportunities to enjoy the company of your friends and colleagues in the industry.

Wednesday afternoon will include a first when the Iveco bus auction, (see the advertisement for the auction in this edition of ABC) will take place as part of Ivecos "Big Arvo Out" luncheon to be held at Poachers Pantry just outside Canberra. So make an effort to come to the Conference and bid for the bus, get a good price and support that BIC lobbying efforts because all proceeds of the auction will be given to BIC to assist our efforts in Canberra.

So if you want to attend the BIC Conference and have not received the Conference registration brochure you can call us at the BIC Secretariat on 0262475990 or alternatively you can find it at www.ozebus.com.au. Just click on Events at the top of the Home page and it will take you to the brochure. Whilst you are on the site you might enter the BIC competition on the home page that offers a prize of two free registrations to the Conference. If you register and have already paid then but win the competition we will refund your registration fees.

Whilst I am speaking about Ozebus, this initiative of the BIC and developed by Bacchus Management Systems is up and running and we hope will serve as a useful adjunct to your existing recruitment and employments practices , whether you are a supplier or operator. The site as well as holding a great deal of useful information about the industry also includes a job centre that will allow you to list jobs vacant in your company and receive applications and your privacy is totally protected. You will be notified by automatic e-mail if anybody applies for the listed job and be given access to the applicants CV and relevant details. At the same time the jobcentre allows prospective employees to lists jobs wanted. This service has been set up to assist Industry and at the same time promote the Industry an as attractive one to enter. The site you will note includes a lot of information about career paths and training and is all about ensuring that we can not only keep people in the Industry but grow the workforce base for the future.

Its success will depend on you and registering as an Ozebus user and using the facilities that it offers. It will take some time to make people aware of the site but is a free service, so please give it a go and be patient whilst the site builds some traffic.

State Associations will be writing to all of their Members in the near future about the site but I encourage you to take a look at the site and support this BIC initiative.

See you at the Conference to support our Industry