In the media
Port of Melbourne welcomes largest container capacity
ship to dock in Melbourne
Port of Melbourne has welcomed the CMA CGM Ural, a 299
metre long vessel, one of six currently deployed on the South-East
Asia – Australia trade route called the 'AAX1'. This
marks the largest container ship by maximum capacity to call at the
port (26 June 2020).
More...
ARA launches three-year strategic plan for Australian
freight
The Australian Railway Association's
(ARA) 2020-2022 strategic plan lays out reforms
required to support increased modal share for the nation's
growing freight task. The document outlines the ARA's vision
for rail freight and ports, with a view to rail playing a stronger
role in meeting Australia's freight needs (26 June 2020).
More...
HVNL Review RIS
The National Transport Commission has just released the
consultation regulatory impact statement (RIS) for
the Review of the Heavy Vehicle National Law. The RIS outlines a
number of options for changes to the Law and analyses the impacts
these changes may have (24 June 2020). More...
Industry to help lift freight strategy ambition
The Australian Government has announced the membership of
a new Freight Industry Reference Panel on behalf of the Transport
and Infrastructure Council (24 June 2020).
More...
Ports Australia pioneers trade statistics resource
In an industry-first, Ports Australia has launched a
detailed
trade statistics resource, which collates and exhibits the
ports sector's trade data. The new representation features a
range of metrics with which the ports' trade are measured,
including throughput in mass tonnes, monetary value of cargo, types
of cargo, and numbers of vessel calls (22 June
2020).
More...
Wallenius Wilhelmsen latest to plead guilty in
Australian cartel case
Norwegian-based global shipping company Wallenius
Wilhelmsen Ocean AS became the latest company to enter a guilty
plea to the long-standing criminal cartel case in Australia (19
June 2020).
More...
NHVR and VTA call on Victorian operators to stick to
access permit conditions
The NHVR and Victorian Transport Association
(VTA) have jointly called on oversize overmass and
PBS operators across Victoria to ensure they are meeting their
access permit conditions. The call comes after a number of
operators across Victoria were recently fined for travelling
outside the routes outlined on their access permit (18 June 2020).
More...
MUA: Fuel security plans must address reliance on
foreign oil tankers
The Federal Government has been urged to address the
nation's complete reliance on foreign owned, operated and
crewed tankers to transport oil and petroleum products as part of
ongoing efforts to address Australia's chronic fuel security
issues (17 June 2020).
More...
Austroads releases traffic modelling guidance for
project managers
Austroads has published
traffic modelling and technical performance assessment guidance
for project managers. Richard Delplace, Austroads Network Program
Manager, said traffic and transport model assessments are becoming
more popular to address increasing congestion in our rapidly
growing cities (17 June 2020). More...
Ports Australia appoints new Policy and Operations
Director
Ports Australia has appointed a new Policy and Operations
Director, Margie Barbouttis (15 June 2020).
More...
Livestock carried cleared to depart with cargo after
COVID-19
The livestock carrier Al Kuwait is preparing to depart
Australia more than three weeks after the vessel arrived on its
last livestock voyage of the season. Crew members aboard the vessel
tested positive for COVID-19 after arriving in Fremantle creating a
brief controversy regarding health protocols, the handling of the
vessel, and the livestock export industry (15 June 2020).
More...
200,000 seafarers stuck at sea on international day of
the seafarer
On June 12, Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the
United Nations released a statement on the repatriation of
seafarers and called on all countries to "formally designate
seafarers and other marine personnel as 'key
workers'". Ms Lloyd adds "it's a global issue
which makes it an Australian issue (June 2020).
More...
Practice and Regulation
IFCBAA interim joint board of directors announced
The Boards of the Australian Federation of International
Forwarders and Customs Brokers and Forwarders Council of Australia
have reached agreement to form a single peak body and to change
their current business names to the International Forwarders and
Customs Brokers Association of Australia (IFCBAA)
Ltd, effective 1 July 2020. Should you have any enquires please do
not hesitate to contact.
AMSD – Requirements for internationally
transhipped air cargo – from 1 July 2020
There are implications for freight forwarders arranging
the movement and transhipment of international cargo on domestic
flights inbound and outbound. AMSD has released Fact Sheets and
Scenarios relative to the acceptance and screening of domestic
cargo including:
- International cargo that is to be transhipped on a domestic
flight
- Domestic cargo that travels on domestic flights and is then to be
transhipped onto an international flight (24 June 2020).
More...
SAL: COVID-19: Regulatory, financial markets and legal
consequences for shipping and trade
Shipping Australia has produced a special report on the
COVID-19 regulatory, financial market, and legal matters relevant
to shipping and trade. It can be found both in the latest edition
of the "Shipping Australia" magazine and also extracted
it (below) for your convenience (18 June 2020).
More...
AMSA: APL England container loss
19 June - The Australian Maritime Safety Authority
(AMSA) has released APL England to allow the ship
to sail from Australia to undertake repairs in China. The
ship's previous Master who is facing multiple charges relating
to the incident, will leave the ship and be repatriated home.
15 June - AMSA has issued a direction ordering the owner of APL
England to search for missing containers that were lost from their
vessel off New South Wales last month.The direction also orders the
owners to recover containers as agreed with AMSA.
More...
AMSA extension national law certificates of
competency
This Domestic Commercial Vessel Safety Alert is to advise
vessel owners, operators, masters, coxswains and crews that the
AMSA has taken steps to extend the duration of all National Law
certificates of competency. AMSA has issued an exemption that
extends all National Law certificates of competency and all
associated endorsements, expiring between 26 March and 1 October
2020, for six months from the expiry date noted on the certificate.
More...
AMSA: 03/2020—Shutdown of AMSA's differential
global positioning system (DGPS) service
This marine notice informs vessel owners, operators and
masters of the shutdown of AMSA's radio beacon differential
global positioning system service from 1 July 2020.
More...
HVNL Review
The Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL)
Review consultation RIS was published. The RIS sets out a suite of
options for the future law and analyses the impacts they might
have. NatRoad with its members, needs to consider the reform
options and advise the NTC what the preferred reforms are. The RIS
is available
here (25 June 2020). More...
ATSB Safety Investigations and Reports
Suspected engine room fire and passenger evacuation involving
domestic commercial vessel Fitzroy Flyer, 13km ENE of Cairns,
Queensland on 29 March 2019 final report released on 24 June
2020.
A catamaran ferry crew's response to a suspected engine room
fire reinforces the importance of vessel operators having robust
procedures and training, a new ATSB investigation has stressed.
NTC Issues Paper - Examining the legal framework for the
land transport of dangerous goods
Have your say Publication date 04 June 2020 Comments due
03 July 2020.
More...
AWA Import industry advice notices 2020
25/06/2020 97-2020
Extended: temporary changes to import certificate requirements for
imported animals, biological and animal-based goods
commodities
24/06/2020 95-2020
Extended: temporary changes to import certificate requirements for
fresh produce, cut flowers, plants and other imported plant-based
commodities
19/06/2020 89-2020
Increase to Commonwealth penalty unit value
AWA: AWE – 2020-21 BMSB season measures – 3
countries added, season end timing and intervention clarified
AFIF as a member of the DCCC-BMSB has been advised of the
forthcoming 2020-21 BMSB Season changes to be effective from 1
September 2020. For the 2020-21 BMSB risk season, measures will
apply to certain goods manufactured in, or shipped from target risk
countries, and/or vessels that berth at, load or tranship from
target risk countries from 1 September 2020 and that arrive in
Australian territory by 31 May 2021 (inclusive)
goods must be treated if exported between 1
September 2020 & 30 April 2021 inclusive;
Goods arriving from 1 June 2021 will not be subject to BMSB
measures.
More...
TLI logistics operations
The Council of Australian Governments Skills Council has
endorsed the Transport and Logistics Training Package for
implementation (15 June 2020).
More...
Senate: Consultations
Importance of a viable, safe, sustainable and efficient road
transport industry
Status: Submissions closed. Date Referred: 11 September 2019
Reporting Date: 14 October 2020
Legislation
Bills
Customs
Charges and Levies Legislation Amendment (Sheep and Lamb) Bill
2020
Introduced HR 17 June 2020
The Excise Levies Legislation Amendment (Sheep and Lamb) Bill 2020
and the Customs Charges and Levies Legislation Amendment (Sheep and
Lamb) Bill 2020 (the Bills) amend the definition in the Acts to
align with the new definition of lamb used for export purposes and
by industry.
Regulations
Export
Control (Tariff Rate Quotas—Feed Grain Export to Indonesia)
Order 2020
25/06/2020 - This order provides for the establishment and
administration of a system of tariff rate quotas for the export of
feed grain to Indonesia. The tariff rate quota permits Australian
exporters to export stipulated volumes of feed grain to Indonesia
at a reduced tariff rate.
Marine
Order 47 (Offshore industry units) Amendment Order
2020
16/06/2020 - This instrument amends the Marine Order 47
(Offshore industry units) 2019 to make changes relating to the
criteria for revoking a Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODU)
safety certificate; the storage of gas cylinders; and the
arrangements for the safe transfer of personnel. It also makes
changes in relation to the requirement for compliance with Chapter
14 of the Code for the construction and equipment of mobile
offshore drilling units, 2009 and the requirement for
familiarisation, training and certification of personnel aboard
offshore industry units under tow.
Marine
Order 58 (Safe management of vessels)
2020
16/06/2020 - This order repeals and
remakes Marine Order 58 (safe management of vessels) 2015 to
provide for the safe management and operation of vessels and
pollution prevention by giving effect to Chapter IX of the
International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea.
Gazetted June 2020
Heavy
Vehicle National Law - National COVID-19 Emergency (Holiday Travel
Condition) Derestriction Notice 2020
(No.4)
26/06/2020 - The purpose of this Notice is to remove
certain travel condition restrictions on heavy vehicle travel times
during the COVID-19 human biosecurity emergency (COVID-19
Emergency). The restrictions are those relating to travel on State
controlled roads during public holidays, school holidays, and at
other specified times.
This Notice expires on 31 July 2020.
Heavy
Vehicle National Law - National Heavy Vehicle Regulator Prescribed
Fees for Financial Year 2020/21
16/06/2020 - Pursuant to s740A(4) of the
Heavy Vehicle National Law, prescribed fees under the Heavy Vehicle
(General) National Regulation for the 2020/21 financial year are
hereby set out in Schedule 1 of this Notice. The fees in Schedule 1
take effect on 1 July 2020.
NSW
Regulations and other miscellaneous instruments
Heavy
Vehicle (Adoption of National Law) Amendment (Penalties) Regulation
(No 2) 2020 (2020-278) — published LW 19 June 2020
Road
Transport (General) Amendment (Penalties) Regulation 2020
(2020-285) — published LW 19 June 2020
Road
Transport (Vehicle Registration) Amendment Regulation 2020
(2020-286) — published LW 19 June 2020
Roads
Amendment (Penalty Notice Offences) Regulation 2020 (2020-287)
— published LW 19 June 2020
Queensland
Subordinate legislation as made – 19 June
2020
No 92
Transport Legislation (COVID-19 Emergency Response) Regulation (No.
2) 2020
This Regulation is made under the COVID-19 Emergency Response Act
2020, Rail Safety National Law (Queensland) Act 2017, Transport
Infrastructure Act 1994, Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Act
1994. The policy objectives of the Regulation are to provide
financial relief to commercial operators in state-managed boat
harbours and provide a framework that will enable exemptions from
requirements about certain marine authorities. The Regulation will
also extend the expiry of a transitional regulation that preserves
certain Queensland-specific definitions under national rail safety
legislation. The Regulation will expire on 31 December 2020.
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.