19-546: The Asia Pacific Transport Consortium is a consortium of three companies and a joint venture established to operate a railway in Australia. The consortium was established in 1999 to: Under a concession deed by the AustralAsia Railway Corporation , it was also contracted for performance of the project. The consortium performed all rail safety, marketing, operation and asset management functions associated with
38-756: A delegation of powers from the Commonwealth, rather than by any constitutional right. This means that the Australian Parliament retains the right to legislate for the Territory, if it chooses to exercise it. Under the law granting self-government to the Territory, the Federal Cabinet can advise the Governor-General of Australia to overturn any legislation passed by the Assembly. (See also Electoral systems of
57-582: Is a member of the Council of Australian Governments . Source: For many years there has been agitation for statehood. A referendum was held on the issue in 1998, but the proposal was narrowly rejected. This was a shock to both the Northern Territory and Commonwealth governments, for opinion polls showed most Territorians supported statehood. However, under s. 121 of the Australian Constitution,
76-670: The Australian Government and the build–own–operate–and–transfer agreement will end. AustralAsia Railway Corporation The AustralAsia Railway Corporation (AARC) was established in 1997 by the Government of the Northern Territory to build the Alice Springs to Darwin section of the Adelaide-Darwin Railway . The Government of South Australia holds 50% of its board positions and voting rights. It owns some of
95-627: The NT Government , is the executive branch of the Northern Territory . The Government of Northern Territory was formed in 1978 with the granting of self-government to the Territory. The Northern Territory is a territory of the Commonwealth of Australia , and the Constitution of Australia and Commonwealth law regulates its relationship with the Commonwealth. Under the Australian Constitution,
114-622: The head of government is Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro of the Country Liberal Party , following the election defeat of Eva Lawler as chief minister on 24 August 2024. Legislative power rests with the Legislative Assembly , which consists of the Administrator of the Northern Territory and the members of the Assembly. While the Assembly exercises roughly the same powers as the state governments of Australia, it does so by
133-612: The APTC directly, by way of mezzanine debt financing ( subordinated debt ), equity and contingent equity . This Australian rail-related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Government of the Northern Territory The Government of the Northern Territory of Australia , also referred to as the Northern Territory Government , the Government of the Northern Territory or simply
152-568: The Australian states and territories ). The government consists of a Ministry appointed by the Administrator, from the elected members of the Assembly. The Administrator normally appoints the leader of the majority party in the Assembly as the Chief Minister. The other members of the ministry are appointed by the Administrator on the advice of the Chief Minister. The Northern Territory Government
171-648: The Centenary of Federation Fund, the Northern Territory Government contributed $ 165 million and the South Australian Government contributed $ 150 million to the AARC for the construction of assets by APTC and FreightLink that were later leased for a peppercorn rental to FreightLink. In addition, the three governments contributed about $ 26 million each, a total of $ 79 million in further funding to support
190-527: The Commonwealth has full legislative power, if it chooses to exercise it, over the Northern Territory, and has devolved self-government to the Territory. The Northern Territory legislature does not have the legislative independence of the Australian states but has power in all matters not in conflict with the Constitution and applicable Commonwealth laws, but subject to a Commonwealth veto. Since 28 August 2024,
209-503: The business. It outsourced to rail service providers train control, train crewing, terminal loading, port operations, and maintenance associated with track and rolling stock. It derived the majority of its revenue from freight forwarders for transportation of general freight, and from transport agreements with mining companies. Revenues from the consortium's four largest customers accounted for approximately 53% and 55% of total revenues in 2009 and 2010 respectively. The design and construction
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#1732851090465228-475: The companies included within the consortium back to the administrator and the joint venture back to the shareholders. The companies were liquidated, thus ending the consortium. Meanwhile, although the railway had led to a boom in bulk mineral transport, the operating company, FreightLink, was unable to repay its debt and in December 2010 was purchased by Genesee & Wyoming Australia , which until then had operated
247-443: The consortium entered into a No Action Agreement with its senior banks until March 2009 to allow it time to continue its business ramp-up activities so that it would be in a position to either sell or restructure its business, or refinance its senior debt facilities. Early in 2008, the board of directors decided that a voluntary sale process would allow the consortium to comply with its obligations under that agreement. A preferred bidder
266-752: The infrastructure of the Alice Springs to Darwin railway and the lease of the Tarcoola to Alice Springs railway from the Federal Government , and leased (or subleased) them to FreightLink . In June 1999, it awarded the contract to build the Darwin to Alice Springs railway to the Asia Pacific Transport Consortium (APTC) as a Build, Own, Operate and Transfer operation. The lease runs until 2054. The Federal Government contributed $ 165 million from
285-502: The interested parties eventually declined to make offers. A deed of company arrangement was approved by creditors of the consortium in April 2009 and executed on behalf of the senior banks in May 2009, to which the consortium was to be subject for up to four years unless the business was sold by the receivers. In June 2010, the receivers signed a business sale agreement with Genesee & Wyoming for
304-484: The railway's rolling stock. That company, now One Rail Australia , operates trains, controls traffic, and maintains above-rail and below-rail assets on the Tarcoola–Darwin line. It also inherited the obligations of the concession deed with the regulator — the AustralAsia Railway Corporation , which oversees fulfilment of deed obligations. One Rail Australia will continue to do so until 2054, when ownership will pass to
323-408: The sale of the consortium's assets, contracts and agreements. However, delays in various governmental and regulatory approvals resulted in the assets subject to the agreement being held on a continuing-use basis, and the receivers continued to operate the consortium on a business-as-usual basis until the sale date of 1 December 2010. After completing the sale as a going concern, the receivers handed
342-544: Was appointed in September 2008 but the bidder's offer lapsed. The board then appointed a voluntary administrator. In November 2008, the senior banks appointed receivers and managers, the No Action Agreement was terminated and the senior bank borrowings were called by the security trustee on their behalf, and a sale process was started. At that time, financial markets declined because of the global financial crisis and in 2009
361-702: Was subcontracted to ADRail, a consortium of Kellogg Brown & Root , John Holland , Barclay Mowlem and Macmahon . The operations were subcontracted to an operating company, FreightLink , a consortium Kellogg Brown & Root, John Holland, Barclay Mowlem, Macmahon and Australian Railroad Group . FreightLink in turn subcontracted specialist activities, such as logistics and terminal operations, rail maintenance, rail operations and port operations, to various subcontractors. The first freight train arrived at Darwin's East Arm Port from Adelaide on 17 January 2004, operated by FreightLink. The first passenger train, The Ghan , arrived on 3 February. In December 2006
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