APPLY NOW: SAFETY INNOVATION AWARD
ALRTA and NHVR remind members that nominations for $5,000 joint 2017 Safety Innovation Award will close on 30 June 2017.
More information and application forms are available here.
MORE POWERS FOR AUTHORISED OFFICERS
ALRTA is pleased to advise that Transport Ministers have agreed to strengthen investigation and enforcement powers for police and other authorised officers under the Heavy Vehicle National Law.
Back in December 2016, ALRTA lodged a submission with the NTC that made 18 recommendations to make it easier for authorised officers to obtain information, ‘follow the chain’, prosecute across state borders, inspect suspect vehicle fleets, impose immediate injunctions (if required), share information across agencies, publish information about successful prosecutions and share information about driver offences with the owners of heavy vehicles.
Our position was developed after consideration of key issues at ATA Council, participation in an NTC workshop and input from ALRTA Executive and our State Associations.
In general, ALRTA favours stronger investigative and enforcement powers because of the impending shift to a new chain of responsibility regime in mid-2018. This will establish new primary duties on all parties in the chain and a presumption of innocence, rather than simply deeming all parties in the chain guilty if a primary offence is detected on the road.
If we want chain of responsibility to work, then officers must have the right powers to make it work.
A draft bill be submitted to Ministers for consideration in November 2017.
BLACK SPOT FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Australian Government has been progressively announcing new road projects in various states under the $500m (over 5 years) Black Spots Programme. On average, black spot projects reduce fatal and injury crashes by 30%.
The announcements include:
- Western Australia: $6.68m for 34 projects.
- South Australia: $5.47m for 24 projects.
- New South Wales: $19.2m for 52 projects.
- Northern Territory: $1.2m for 4 projects.
- Queensland: $12m for 42 projects.
- Victoria: $13.6m for 50 projects.
To find out about individual projects in your local area click here.
AUSTRALIAN SUPPLIER PAYMENT CODE
The Business Council of Australia (BCA) has launched a voluntary Australian Supplier Payment Code that commits signatories to:
- Pay small business suppliers within 30 days (subject to conditions).
- Pay all suppliers on time.
- Provide clear guidance about payment procedures to suppliers.
- Work with suppliers to improve invoicing and payments practices.
- A process for resolving payment disputes and complaints.
- Basic reporting on company policies and practices in place to comply with the Code.
At this stage, the list of signatories to the code is limited and so the benefits to small trucking companies are also small. However, in the absence of regulation requiring payment within 30 days, this is a commendable first step and we can only hope that more large companies will sign up.
CROSS-LOADING AT YORKEYS CROSSING
ALRTA welcomes the decision of the South Australian Government to upgrade the intersection at Yorkeys Crossing Road and the Stuart Highway north of Port Augusta.
The upgrade will include sealing of the road and the installation of purpose built livestock cross-loading infrastructure. The cross-loading pods will provide a bridge between crates for both livestock and handlers so that cattle can be safety transferred from larger northern combinations to smaller combinations entering southern regions.
The SA Government is now seeking tenders to build the cross-loading pods.
$1M DONATION FOR HEART OF AUSTRALIA
ALRTA is pleased to report that the Heart of Australia mobile specialist clinic has received a $1m donation from a mystery donor.
Founder of the Heart of Australia service, Dr Rolf Gomes, was a special guest speaker at the joint ALRTA-LRTAQ National-State Conference held in Toowoomba earlier this year. Dr Gomes delivered a moving address about how he turned his dream of providing cardiac services to patients in regional Queensland into a reality by establishing a 25m custom designed clinic-on-wheels pulled by a Kenworth K200 prime mover.
The donation will allow Dr Gomes to put a second mobile clinic on the road by January 2018.
You can help support the Heart of Australia service by clicking here.
UPCOMING EVENTS
LRTASA Conference
The LRTASA Annual State Conference will be held 16-17 June 2017 at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. The weekend kicks off with a Golf competition at Adelaide Golf Links on the fringe of the CBD followed by pre-dinner drinks and dinner at the Entertainment Centre. The Conference Sessions are on Saturday followed by a Gala Dinner (with entertainment by the legendary Mick Meredith) and Auction.
Register here.
Trucking Australia Conference
The ATA’s premier annual event ‘Trucking Australia 2017’ will be held 21-23 June 2017 at the Darwin Convention Centre. The program is a mix of entertainment and business activities featuring the Kenworth Legends Luncheon, chain of responsibility master class and the National Trucking Industry Awards.
Register here.
LRTAWA Conference
The LRTAWA Annual State Conference will be held 30 June – 1 July 2017 at the Light House Beach Resort in Bunbury.
For more information contact: admin@lrtawa.org.au
LRTAV Conference
The LRTAV Annual State Conference will be held 11-12 August 2017 at the RACV Resort in Torquay.
Check here for more information.