Harmonisation

The department is committed to aligning technical publications with nationally recognised standards and guidance where appropriate. Harmonisation supports greater consistency across jurisdictions, reduces complexity for industry, and contributes to the delivery of safe, efficient and sustainable transport infrastructure in Queensland.

While national content is adopted wherever practical, Queensland-specific requirements are retained where necessary to address local operational, environmental and legislative needs. This approach promotes national consistency while ensuring technical requirements remain fit for purpose in Queensland.

Technical Specifications

Harmonised specifications (MRTS) adopt and modify content from Austroads Technical Specifications (ATS), incorporating both national requirements and Queensland-specific provisions within the ATS structure.

The extent to which national content can be adopted is influenced by existing frameworks, subject matter considerations, operational priorities and resource availability.

The Specification Index provides access to harmonised MRTS content across all specification categories. 

Where there is direct alignment between MRTS and ATS content, ancillary documents for harmonised Technical Specifications have been developed to identify national versus Queensland-specific content. These documents are provided for information only and must not be used for contractual purposes.

Supplements to Austroads Guides

To support harmonisation of manuals and guidance documents, the department has developed Queensland supplements that contain only Queensland-specific requirements and guidance, with readers directed to the corresponding Austroads publication for national content.

Where applicable, Queensland supplement content takes precedence over the equivalent Austroads guide. This approach is used across a range of harmonised publications, including:

• Queensland Guide to Road Safety (QGRS)
• Queensland Guide to Smart Motorways (QGSM)
• Queensland Guide to Temporary Traffic Management (QGTTM)
• Queensland Guide to Traffic Management (QGTM)
• Queensland Road Safety Technical User Volumes (QRSTUV)
• Road Planning and Design Manual (RPDM) - Volume 3: Guide to Road Design
• Traffic and Road Use Management Manual (TRUM) - Volume 1: Guide to Traffic Management

Supplements to Australian Standards

The department also publishes Queensland-specific supplements to Australian Standards.

The Queensland Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (Queensland MUTCD) takes precedence over Australian Standard AS 1742 Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices, except where the Australian Standard is accepted.

The Queensland Road Safety Technical User Volumes (QRSTUV) provide additional technical guidance aligned with both AS 1742 and the Austroads Guide to Road Safety.

Stay updated

For more information about the department’s harmonisation program, contact Technical Publications.

To stay informed about upcoming changes to technical publications, view the Industry Update and subscribe to receive notifications when key publications are updated.

Austroads publications and guides are available via the publications tab on the Austroads website.