In May 2026, CCAT hosted a webinar examining how Australia can maximise the benefits of connected and automated transport while proactively addressing risks and unintended consequences.

The discussion built on insights from CCAT’s National Future Transport Summit, which engaged more than 100 organisations over two years to develop recommendations focused on maximising safety, productivity and sustainability outcomes from connected and automated transport. Moderated by CCAT Executive Director Rahila David, the panel featured Professor Simone Pettigrew (The George Institute for Global Health), Ashleigh Cormack (Uber) and Nikesh Murali (The NRMA). Key discussion topics from the webinar included public trust, workforce transition, equity, sustainability, regulation, behavioural impacts and the importance of early planning.

Opportunities for Australia

Panellists highlighted significant opportunities for connected and automated transport over the next decade. Beyond safety improvements, automation is closely linked with electrification, offering a pathway to accelerate the transition to low-emissions transport while modernising urban mobility systems. Connected and automated transport could also transform access to mobility, particularly by improving first- and last-mile connections. This has strong implications for older Australians, people with disabilities and regional communities. The technology can also deliver broader public health benefits through reduced road trauma and greater social and economic participation.

Managing risks and unintended consequences

A central focus was the need to manage risks early. Reference was made to Uber’s Unlocking the Potential of Autonomy, which identifies the need to address challenges such as workforce disruption, congestion driven by induced demand, and unequal access.

International experience demonstrates these risks. In cities like San Francisco, autonomous vehicle deployment has concentrated in wealthier urban areas, raising concerns about equity. While Australia’s outcomes may differ due to local travel behaviour, panellists emphasised that sustained investment in public and active transport remains critical regardless of automation.

Other key issues that were explored included:

• Public trust emerged as a critical enabler of connected and automated transport adoption. Panellists agreed that hands-on exposure—through pilots, demonstrations and trials—is essential to build familiarity and confidence. The George Institute’s research shows that public concerns tend to decrease significantly after direct experience with the technology. Equally important is transparency. While safety incidents are inevitable at scale, maintaining trust will depend on how industry and government communicate and respond. Lessons from electric vehicle adoption highlighted the value of gradual rollout, clear communication of risks and limitations, and positioning automation as a safety-enhancing technology rather than a novelty.

• An underexplored issue in Australia is the broader behavioural and public health impacts of connected and automated transport. Research from The George Institute indicates strong interest in autonomous delivery services, driven largely by convenience. However, increased convenience may contribute to unintended consequences, including higher consumption of unhealthy goods, more sedentary lifestyles, and potential links to wider social harms such as gambling or domestic issues. This underscores the need to consider connected and automated transport through a whole-of-system, public interest lens. Governments should consider acting early to regulate emerging services like autonomous delivery with these downstream consequences in mind, rather than responding after widespread adoption.

• Australia’s approach to regulation and deployment was discussed by the panel. There was broad agreement that Australia is taking a cautious and appropriate approach. A key advantage is the ability to learn from international deployment before scaling locally. Strong safety regulation is important, as global incidents can still influence domestic perceptions. Panellists also emphasised the need for Australian-specific testing, particularly in regional conditions involving wildlife, variable road quality and long distances. Local trials are important not only for technical performance but also for building public confidence.

• Workforce transition and the future of work was identified as a critical issue. Automation is expected to reduce demand for some driving roles over time, particularly in rideshare and freight. However, hybrid models combining human drivers and automated systems could help manage the transition. New opportunities are likely to emerge in fleet management, remote operations and system monitoring, while impacts will also be felt across maintenance and support industries. This highlights the need for long-term workforce planning, including retraining and reskilling initiatives.

• Ensuring regional and remote communities benefit from connected and automated transport was a recurring theme. These areas stand to gain significantly due to existing transport limitations. However, commercial models may prioritise profitable urban markets. International examples, such as government-supported services in regional Japan, demonstrate how policy intervention can enable equitable rollout. Similar approaches may be needed in Australia to avoid widening the urban–regional divide.

Near-term priorities

The discussion identified several immediate priorities for Australia as connected and automated transport technologies continue to evolve. These included strengthening collaboration and information sharing across sectors, building public trust through transparency and honest communication, expanding Australian-specific testing and research, introducing early regulation for emerging services, planning proactively for workforce transition, and improving coordination between government, industry and researchers. Research into advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) was also highlighted as an important focus area, particularly given growing concerns about how some existing vehicle automation technologies may influence driver behaviour and safety outcomes.

Final reflections

The webinar concluded that connected and automated transport offers significant potential to improve safety, sustainability, accessibility and productivity. However, achieving these benefits will require proactive and coordinated action.

Panellists emphasised that the transition is not purely technological, but also social, economic and behavioural. Success will depend on building trust, ensuring transparency, fostering collaboration and prioritising inclusive deployment.

RahilaDavid closed by acknowledging National Road Safety Week and highlighting thelife-saving potential of these technologies.

Watch the webinar recording here:

Have an idea for a future webinar or event? contact info@ccat.org.au

‍