Senator the Hon Mathias Cormann

Former Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss has today been appointed Chair of the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC).

Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Michael McCormack said Mr Truss would bring experience and energy oversighting the Australian Government owned interstate rail network company.

“As a former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Mr Truss was a driving force in the delivery of significant Australian Government infrastructure investments, including the early funding for Inland Rail,” Mr McCormack said.

“Mr Truss brings a wealth of experience to ARTC with knowledge of the complexity in Australia’s growing freight and passenger task, leadership in the delivery major infrastructure projects and a strong understanding of regional Australia.”

The Acting Prime Minister thanked Dr Helen Nugent AO and noted that under her leadership, ARTC has delivered significant improvements to the efficiency and competitiveness of Australia’s interstate rail network and driven the early stages of the Inland Rail project.

Minister for Finance Mathias Cormann said he was looking forward to again working with Mr Truss, who has been appointed to the role for the next three years.

“ARTC manages the nation’s interstate network and is responsible for the delivery of the Inland Rail, to which the Australian Government has invested $9.3 billion, including $8.4 billion equity in the 2017-18 Budget,’ the Minister said.

Minister Cormann said that with Mr Truss as Chair, ARTC will have a renewed focus on stakeholder engagement and delivery as we work towards construction this year.

“I also thank Dr Nugent for her service and contribution to ARTC. I am looking forward to seeing how Mr Truss can shape the ARTC’s ongoing delivery of key rail projects the Australian Government is delivering,” Minister Cormann said.

For more information on ARTC, visit www.artc.com.au.