In the media

ATA announces TruckSafe's new accreditation standards
TruckSafe has launched a new standards and accreditation guide. The guide has been created to give all parties in the supply chain more confidence of compliance (18 April 2019). More...

Light vehicle drivers targeted by top trucking safety tips
Overtaking, road positioning and stopping distances are some of the key issues addressed in a new series of videos educating light vehicle drivers how to behave around trucks. NHVR Corporate Affairs Executive Director Joe Fitzgerald said there is no formal requirement to teach new drivers about sharing the road with heavy vehicles (17 April 2019). More...

NHVR releases new AFM kit for operators
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has released the first instalment of a new advanced fatigue management (AFM) application kit, aimed at simplifying access for operators seeking work and rest hour flexibility (16 April 2019). More...

World first in fatigue research
The NTC and the Cooperative Research Centre for Alertness, Safety and Productivity (Alertness CRC) today released the results of a world-first study into heavy vehicle driver fatigue. The study confirmed the scientific link between alertness and drowsiness patterns associated with specific work shifts for heavy vehicle driving (15 April 2019). More...
The summary report and an infographic of the key research findings are available on the NTC website.

Operation Crossway targets dock safety - Portland
Over 440 vehicles in total and more than 100 vessels were checked last week as part of an operation targeting heavy vehicle and marine safety around Portland and Portland's coastline (12 April 2019). More...

New cameras target heavy vehicle safety
ACT roads will be safer with the roll out of new heavy vehicle monitoring cameras on both sides of the Federal Highway near the NSW border. In conjunction with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR), these cameras will integrate with others placed at key points across the nation to help ensure safety is maintained for all road users (11 April 2019). More...

Sydney empty container logistics talks bear fruit
A recent collaboration between Container Transport Alliance Australia (CTAA) and Road Freight NSW has seen talks gain traction on empty container park logistics, the proponents report (10 April 2019). More...

Bicycle NSW in heavy vehicle safety campaign
Bicycle NSW has launched a campaign calling for improved heavy vehicle safety standards to protect vulnerable road users following an increase in pedestrian and rider fatalities involving trucks (10 April 2019). More...

National Freight Data Hub to ease the freight pain
The iMOVE Cooperative Research Centre has released its report recommending establishment of a National Freight Data Hub to track freight use and identify choke-points and congestion across Australia. Federal Transport Minister Michael McCormack has confirmed iMOVE's Freight Data Hub recommendation has been accepted and will be established with more than $8m in funding (09 April 2019). More...

Published – articles, papers, reports

Commonwealth Orange Book 2019: policy priorities for the federal government
John Daley, Stephen Duckett, Peter Goss, Andrew Norton, Marion Terrill, Danielle Wood, Tony Wood, Brendan Coates; Grattan Institute: 16 April 2019.
This report rates Australia's performance against similar countries and proposes policy reforms for schools and universities, hospitals and housing, roads and railways, cities and regions, budgets and taxes, retirement incomes, and climate change. More...

Key issues for the 57th Parliament
Parliamentary Research Service (NSW): 11 April 2019
This briefing paper provides Members of the 57th Parliament of New South Wales with an authoritative overview of 45 key issues affecting the State in 2019. It examines the demographic profile of NSW and considers the current state of our economy and the ongoing challenges of planning and transport. More...

NTC On the Road - 15 April 2019
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. More...

In practice and courts

NHVR: Advanced Fatigue Management (AFM) – Application Toolkits
AFM is the most flexible work and rest hours option available. Rather than using prescribed work and rest hours, AFM offers the flexibility to propose your own hours as long as the fatigue risks of those hours are offset by sleep, rest and other management practices in a compliant fatigue risk management system. See Setting your own operating limits and countermeasures under AFM and the Fatigue Risk Assessment Tool assists you in calculating the fatigue risks in your proposed work and rest hours (April 2019).

ATSB Occurrence Brief 2019
Collision between two ships, Port Hedland anchorage, WA, on 16 December 2018 – report released on 15 April 2019. More...

NTC Discussion Paper - Refining the definition of rail safety work
Issued on 16 April 2019 with comments due 14 June 2019. More...

The National Transport Commission (NTC) Issues Paper: regulatory style and structure of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL)
The released issues paper seeks views on ways to make the law outcome focused and less prescriptive while ensuring safety and promoting productivity. This foundation paper is the first of eight issues papers in a rolling consultation to mid-2019. For more information about our upcoming consultation visit the website, comments Due 31 May 2019. More...

AFIF: Biosecurity Levy Update - Revised Start Date 1 September 2019
The Government has announced a delay with a new start date of 1 September 2019 and a consequent small loss of revenue associated with a later start date. More...

Australian Industry Standards 2019
All 11 IRCs we support have held their first meetings for the year to finalise the draft 2019 Skills Forecasts and Proposed Schedules of Work which prioritise the skill needs of their industry sectors and propose future Training Package development activity. Each IRC will approve the final version to be submitted to the Australian Industry Skills Committee (AISC) on 30 April. More...

NHVR: Fatigue monitoring trial
The NHVR is undertaking a trial of fatigue safety related technologies to gain a greater understanding of how they work and are used. The trial is being conducted in five phases between January 2019 and June 2020.The purpose of the trial is to determine how best to encourage industry uptake of technology that monitors drivers and detects fatigue and/or distraction. See the Introduction to the Fatigue Monitoring Trial.

Labour-hire licensing scheme commences 29 April 2019
Labour-hire providers will have six months to apply for a licence to operate in the State after this time. To obtain and keep a licence, labour-hire firms will need to pass a "fit and proper person test", which involves demonstrating long-term compliance with Victoria's OHS and workers' compensation Acts. Information sessions will be held from March - April. To find out more visit the events page. More...

AFIF National Conference 2019
We welcome you to join us at the AFIF 2019 National Conference and Gala Dinner, at Hyatt Place Melbourne, Essendon Fields VIC from May 23 - 24, 2019. Registrations are now open. Full Program details can be found here 2019 Conference Program.

Legislation

Commonwealth

Gazette Notices

Heavy Vehicle National Law - South Australia Approval for a Bus Towing a Disabled Bus to Exceed an Overall Length of 19m Amendment Notice 2019 (No.2)
18/04/2019 - Note: this Notice replaces the Approval for a Bus Towing a Disabled Bus to Exceed an Overall Length of 19m Amendment Notice 2019 (No.1) that incorrectly named the primary notice to be amended. The substantial amendment to s6 of the principle Notice is unchanged.

Heavy Vehicle National Law - Heavy Vehicle Stated Maps – Amendment Notice 2019 (No.5)
17/04/2019 – The purpose of this Notice is to amend stated maps for vehicles at the request of road managers.
The amendments take effect 28 days after publication.

Regulations

Queensland

Subordinate Legislation as made – 19 April 2019
No 51 Transport and Other Legislation Amendment Regulation (No. 1) 2019
Part 3 Amendment of Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Regulation 2016; Part 4 Amendment of Transport Operations (Road Use Management—Vehicle Standards and Safety) Regulation 2010

Queensland Parliament
Heavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2019
Transport and Public Works Committee – submissions open until 23 April 2019. Report due 23 May 2019

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.