State Labor MPs met with industry experts, researchers and business leaders in Newcastle on Wednesday to discuss the party’s vision to harness the region’s expertise in clean technology industries to pioneer driverless car technology. 

State Labor leader Luke Foley said the region already had many of the ingredients needed to make the plan a reality, including CSIRO, Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources and a highly skilled manufacturing sector. 

The global driverless car industry is forecast to be worth $90 billion by 2030. 

The vehicles use a combination of sensors and digital maps to get around.

Once on the road, the vehicles use 3D laser-mapping, GPS and radar to analyse the car’s surroundings, including what colour the traffic lights are. 

Radar technology can see through objects, like pedestrians hiding behind a car who are about to run across the road.

Driverless cars trialled by Volvo achieved speeds of up to 100 km/h on an Adelaide highway last year. 

Google, Mercedes-Benz and Tesla have also been testing autonomous vehicles across the world.

Mr Foley, who outlined the party’s plan in his budget reply speech, said Labor wanted to bring forward legislation to legalise the testing of autonomous electric cars on designated public roads.

“The Labor team is determined to ensure the Hunter becomes a national hub for clean technology industry,” Mr Foley said. 

“Driverless cars have the potential to transform our road system, improving traffic efficiency, cutting congestion and reducing the road toll.”

Wednesday’s roundtable discussion included representatives from Volvo, Transurban, NRMA, the University of Newcastle, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie councils and HunterNet. 

The driverless car revolution is also expected to have major implications for motor vehicle insurance premiums as a result of fewer collisions.