In the media
Transport sector plan in NSW puts brakes on
injuries
Reducing serious injuries and fatalities in the transport
industry is at the heart of a significant new strategy, the
Transport Work Health and Safety Sector Plan, launched by the state
Government today (21 September 2018).
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Stability control braking news: ATA
The Australian Trucking Association is urging truck
operators to get up to speed with new braking and electronic
stability control requirements that are set to be implemented soon
(20 September 2018).
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Freight as crucial as passengers says cities
report
The federal parliamentary Standing Committee on
Infrastructure, Transport and Cities calls for proper planning,
corridor protection and fleet age action in the released Building
Up & Moving Out report (20 September 2018).
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Size matters when it comes to loaded hay trucks
Trucking load regulations are relaxed at state borders to
get animal feed to drought-affected farmers. The maximum size of
vehicle now exempt from having to apply for a permit will be 4.6
metres high and 2.83 metres wide (20 September 2018).
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ALC: Cities report underscores need for freight in
planning
The Australian Logistics Council (ALC)
says the report of the Inquiry into the Australian Government's
role in the development of cities is an endorsement of its
continuing efforts to have freight movement prioritised in the
nation's planning regimes (18 September 2018).
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EPA fines Newcastle Stevedores $15,000
Newcastle Stevedores Pty Ltd has received a $15,000 fine
following an unannounced inspection from the Environment Protection
Authority(EPA) in August 2018 when an EPA officer
observed poor environmental controls during grain unloading, which
led to pollution of the Newcastle Harbour (19 September 2018).
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Blenners director dismisses TWU calls after crash
Blenners Transport director Les Blennerhassett has brushed
off Transport Workers Union (TWU) calls for an
investigation into his company following the deaths of two of its
drivers (19 September 2018).
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Northbridge tunnel damaged by truck, Main Roads to
pursue driver for cost of repairs
The driver of a truck carrying an excavator machine which
damaged the ceiling of the Northbridge Tunnel causing traffic chaos
last Wednesday, is being pursued by Main Roads over the cost of
repairs (19 September 2018).
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ALC: Progress on Sydney Gateway welcomed
The Australian Logistics Council (ALC)
has welcomed the announcement of progress on the Sydney Gateway
project, including confirmation that the new road links constructed
as part of the project will be toll-free (13 September 2018).
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ALC: Time to get serious about technology in road
safety
The Australian Logistics Council (ALC)
says the report of the Inquiry into the National Road Safety
Strategy today lends further weight to the organisation's
consistent call for mandatory use of telematics in heavy vehicles
(12 September 2018).
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VTA and MTAG link with Melbourne port transport
plan
Trucking peak body and local pressure group need official
backing for initiative (13 September 2018).
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Toll roads inquiry hands down findings
The Palaszczuk Government has supported a Parliamentary
committee's calls for toll operators to improve their customer
service performance. Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey
said the Parliamentary Inquiry into toll roads had attracted almost
200 submissions, with many of those focused on customer service
issues and fees and charges (13 September 2018).
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Government welcomes independent Road Safety
Inquiry
An independent inquiry initiated in September 2017 by the
Australian Government into the National Road Safety Strategy
(NRSS) 2011-2020 has been formally released (12
September 2018).
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'Ground is shifting' towards road pricing
Australia could be on track to adopt a user-pays system
for roads, with senior bureaucrats and economists saying momentum
for reform is 'beyond doubt.' (13 September 2018).
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Boost safety tech adoption says NRSS report
Mandating proven low-cost safety technologies might help
improve the situation, an independent inquiry into the National
Road Safety Strategy (NRSS) 2011-20 report says
(12 September 2018).
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NatRoad slams 'reckless' fatigue stance
Keeping a fatigue regulation that prevents a rested driver
from driving until they have waited seven hours is a 'poor and
reckless stance', the National Road Transport Association
(NatRoad) says (12 September 2018).
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ALC and ATA release safety summit action points
Eight areas identified, including boosting master code
relevance to smaller operators by the Australian Logistics Council
(ALC) and the Australian Trucking Association
(ATA) in the wake of this month's joint Supply
Chain Safety and Compliance Summit. (12 September 2018).
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NTI commits to more NTARC crash research
National Truck Accident Research Centre to report
annually. The Major Accident Research Report is a biannual
examination of NTI-insured heavy truck accidents NTI-insured where
the quantum of the loss exceeds $50,000. (11 September 2018).
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Published – articles, papers, reports
National Road Safety Strategy (NRSS) 2011-2020: Inquiry
Report
Released 12 September 2018
A key finding of the inquiry is implementation failure. The lack of
focus on a harm elimination agenda means that sub-optimal results
are unintentionally achieved because some improvement in safety is
often regarded as sufficient or is assumed.
Waiting for the
green light: transport solutions to climate
change
Released 13 September 2018
This report marks the beginning of a new flagship project for the
Climate Council aimed at cutting greenhouse gas pollution levels
from the transport sector - Australia's second largest source
of greenhouse gas pollution.
Future transport
and mobility - Australian capabilities and opportunities: summary
report
Australian Trade and Investment Commission, ITS Australia,
Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities
(Australia): 10 September 2018.
Increasing urbanisation, rapid population growth and questions of
environmental sustainability are forcing Australia to rethink its
transport infrastructure matrix, according to this Austrade
report.
On the Road - Issue 43, 10 September 2018 - NHVR
newsletter
?On the Road provides important information on the heavy
vehicle industry, including the latest NHVR news and events,
relevant law and policy changes, and resources to help industry
members comply with the HVNL.
In practice and courts
Ministerial statement: Cutting red tape for truckies
carting hay
From 20 September 2018, wider and higher loads of hay and
fodder will be allowed to travel on state and national-controlled
roads.
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NHVR: Route assessment tool free for road managers
The released Restricted Access Vehicle Route Assessment
Tool (or RAVRAT) provides local governments with a
consistent assessment tool and methodology when assessing heavy
vehicle access requests. To register for the RAVRAT services visit
here. For more
information about using RAVRAT or the recent changes, please email (12 September 2018).
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NHVR: Primary producer work diary exemption to be
extended
The National Primary Production Work Diary Exemption 2018
would continue the exemption for drivers of vehicles over 12 tonnes
transporting produce within a 160km radius of their base. The
Notice will apply in all participating NHVR states and territories
(10 September 2018).
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NHVR: Changes to Chain of Responsibility laws confirmed
for October 1
Reforms to the Chain of Responsibility
(CoR) laws will be implemented from 1 October.
Duty holders who assess their risks and manage them will be
complying with both the HVNL and workplace safety law. The NHVR has
information available including CoR Gap Assessment tools,
role-specific fact sheets, Safety Management System templates and
tools, and videos and podcasts.
More...
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ASMA Dangerous, hazardous and harmful cargoes handbook,
3rd edition, August 2018
The latest version of the dangerous, hazardous and harmful
cargoes handbook is now available. The handbook provides
theoretical and practical guidance on the rules to shipping
dangerous goods by sea. It also outlines the responsibilities of
shore and ship based personnel and how these requirements may be
enforced (13 September 2018).
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Legislation
Commonwealth
Bills
Shipping
Registration Amendment Bill 2018
HR 13/09/2018 - The purpose of this Bill is to amend the
Shipping Registration Act 1981 (the Act) to make minor
technical changes that are necessary for the remaking of the
Shipping Registration Regulations 1981 (the Regulations)
for provisional registration certificates.
Gazetted
National
Class 3 Drought Assistance Dimension Exemption Notice 2018
(No.1)
20/09/2-18 - This Notice exempts eligible vehicles from
complying with certain dimension requirements when transporting
specified commodities for consumption by livestock in declared
drought affected areas. This Notice expires five years after
commencement.
Queensland
Bills
Heavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill
2018
Introduced by: Hon M Bailey MP on 1/05/2018 Passed with
amendment on 5/09/2018.
Assent Date: 11/09/2018 Act No: 18 of 2018 Commences: see Act for
details.
Changes to the HVNL giving new powers to authorised officers have
passed the Queensland parliament ahead of their national
introduction. The new obligations will apply from October 1.
This publication does not deal with every important topic or change in law and is not intended to be relied upon as a substitute for legal or other advice that may be relevant to the reader's specific circumstances. If you have found this publication of interest and would like to know more or wish to obtain legal advice relevant to your circumstances please contact one of the named individuals listed.