HAVE YOUR SAY: IMPACT OF DRAFT REMUNERATION ORDER
The ALRTA is seeking your views on the impact of the draft Road Safety Remuneration Order on the use of sub-contractors.
In our recent submission, we cited serious concerns that the proposed minimum rates will price owner-drivers out of the market and force a structural shift towards employee drivers.
Just about every other industry association is saying the same thing.
The Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal may conduct hearings about the impact of the Order from 17-25 October 2015.
To help support our case, we ask members to fill out a 5 minute survey about your current and future use of sub-contractors. It is just five yes/no questions.
You can find the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RJKSBMP
If possible, we would appreciate responses by COB Tuesday, 13 October 2015.
You can find the full draft Order at www.rsrt.gov.au, but here is a summary of some of the proposed rates for quick reference.
| Driver Only $/Hr | Driver + Truck | Driver + Truck + Trailer(s) | |
| Semi | $42.70 | $33.87hr + $1.59km | $45.96hr + $1.73km |
| Semi – CML/HML | $43.32 | $33.87hr + $1.60km | $45.96hr + $1.74km |
| B-Double | $44.57 | $33.87hr + $1.83km | $52.14hr + $2.07km |
| Double RT | $44.57 | $33.87hr + $1.97km | $62.40hr + $2.29km |
| B Triple | $45.34 | $33.87hr + $2.02km | $64.23hr + $2.43km |
| AB Triple | $45.34 | $33.87hr + $2.16km | $68.58hr + $2.61km |
| Triple RT | $45.34 | $33.87hr + $2.30km | $78.84hr + $2.97km |
| Double B-Double | $45.34 | $33.87hr + $2.34km | $74.77hr + $2.91km |
Note: Additional supplementary rates are also payable of around $0.06 to $0.09 per km in Tas and Regional WA and around $0.11 to $0.19 per km in NT.
ALRTA PARTICIPATES IN VARIOUS NATIONAL ADVISORY GROUPS
This week ALRTA participated in various industry-government advisory groups – so there was plenty of opportunity to have our say on a range of important matters.
NHVR: NATIONAL OPERATIONAL STRATEGY AND POLICY ADVISORY GROUP
First up, an historic moment occurred this week with the first joint industry-government meeting of the NHVR’s National Operational Strategy and Policy Advisory Group.
The ALRTA first wrote to Deputy Prime Minister Truss seeking the establishment of such a forum way back on 19 December 2013. At the time, there was no plan to establish an ongoing formal industry-government consultation mechanism once the NHVR opened its doors on 10 February 2014.
Given that industry is the primary customer (and funding source) of the NHVR and that State and Local Governments are the primary roadside service providers, it is imperative that all stakeholders are able to come together to foster greater understanding and cooperation on operational and strategic issues.
Some of the matters discussed included: chain of responsibility (including effluent loss); cross-border OSOM permits; national defect processes; and working towards greater co-regulation (e.g. via industry codes of practice).
The group will now meet twice annually in the lead up to the officials meeting that precedes Transport and Infrastructure Ministerial Council Meetings.
AUSTROADS: FREIGHT PROGRAM ADVISORY GROUP
Next was the Austroads Freight Program Advisory Group at which the ALRTA gave as formal presentation outlining our view about Austroads research priorities.
Austroads is already undertaking research in several areas of interest including:
- Funding and Finance options for Remote and Regional Roads;
- Community service obligations;
- Improving HPV access through potential charging reforms;
- Bridge assessment processes and procedures;
- Steer axle mass limits; and
- Heavy vehicle braking technology.
There are however several other areas that we believe could benefit from a stronger research focus:
- Access barriers in rural and regional environments;
- Relative safety risks in remote areas;
- Rest stops / safety bays (total numbers, design, location);
- Quality of road construction and fit-for-purpose design; and
- Investigating the best ways to expand HPV networks – particularly for B-doubles.
Austroads will now consider the proposals put forward by industry parties in the context of future budgets and research capability.
NTC: INDUSTRY ADVISORY GROUP
Several business cases for new NTC projects will be considered by Ministers when they next meet in November this year. So, this week NTC hosted a workshop of industry parties to consider and comment on the proposals.
From our perspective, it was a mixed bag.
There were some very good proposals such as that to develop a commercial driver fitness for duty assessment standard and guideline, and another to make sure we have consistent national laws for regulatory telematics.
There were mixed views about whether or not NTC should conduct a review of international operator licensing schemes. The ALRTA does not officially support or oppose operator licensing – but at this stage we would be comfortable having a look at it before adopting a position. We certainly don’t need another layer of red-tape, but I also know there are lots of operators out there who are fed up competing with the few companies that are not doing the right thing.
ALRTA was firmly opposed to the proposal to consider mandatory telematics for all long haul heavy vehicles. This proposal is ‘too much, too soon’ when considering that we haven’t even yet ironed out the problems with voluntary electronic work diaries or agreed on any kind of system for mass-distance-location charging. Unquestionably, telematics can have benefits for managing larger fleets and most have voluntarily adopted it already, but mandating telematics for single-truck and small fleet operators without a good reason would just be another cost with little or no benefit for the operator and a new exposure to fines for not keeping data that isn’t even used!
FACT SHEET ON SUPPORTING MENTAL HEALTH
ALRTA has released an exclusive member fact sheet on supporting mental health to coincide with national Mental Health Week this week.
The fact sheet was developed in partnership with SANE Australia, and outlines strategies and support services for supporting mental health and wellbeing.
ALRTA National President Kevin Keenan said some 45 per cent of Australians would experience a mental illness in their working lifetime.
“It’s not uncommon to hear people complain about being stressed. But if job stress is following you on holiday, or you sometimes feel inexplicably distressed or disconnected, it’s a reminder to put your own mental wellbeing as your first priority,” President Keenan said.
“Many of us like to think we can manage on our own, but it’s important to ask for help if you need it. It’s especially important to have someone you can talk to and who understands how you are feeling.
“One of the strongest defences against mental illness is staying connected to your family and friends. If you’re out on the road or can’t reach these people, there are also a range of support services listed in the fact sheet that are there to help 24/7.
“We will continue to release these fact sheets to ALRTA members throughout 2015, each focusing on a new health topic.”
Please contact the ALRTA or your State Association Secretariat for a copy of the fact sheet.