ALRTA News – 15 June 2018

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LIVE EXPORT BATTLE MOVES TO COURT

The battle over live sheep exports to the Middle East is now being waged on three fronts: media, Federal Parliament and Federal Court.

This week, Animals Australia launched a case in the Federal Court arguing that the Department of Agriculture unlawfully issued a permit for the export of 58,000 sheep from Freemantle on 6 June 2018.

Lawyers for Animals Australia allege that a permit could only be granted if the livestock were healthy and there were adequate arrangements in place to prevent risks to livestock health and welfare.

The Department of Agriculture is defending its legal right to issue the permit.

This case may have implications for other shipments.  A trial date is yet to be set.

REMINDER: LIVE EXPORT LETTER CAMPAIGN

The ALRTA calls on all members and interested parties to urgently write to your Federal Member of Parliament and other key decision makers to express your view about proposals to phase out live sheep exports.

For more information click here.

ALRTA SUBMISSION ON FIT TO LOAD GUIDE

The ALRTA has lodged a submission in response to the MLA review of the Fit-to-Load Guide.

We have argued that the Guide should do more to assist responsible persons to respond appropriately to a number of relatively common conditions including:

  • hernia;
  • uncut claws;
  • blindness;
  • broken horns;
  • prolapse; and
  • expression of pain.

In addition, we believe that it would be appropriate for the guide to include the loading densities stipulated in the Land Transport Standards.

Given that the ALRTA is the peak industry body representing 850 road transport businesses servicing the agricultural supply chain we have also asked for a position on the internal review committee.

HAVE YOUR SAY: HVNL REVIEW

ALRTA wants to hear from you!

Ministers have endorsed the calls by ALRTA and other stakeholders to bring forward the scheduled HVNL review by 2 years.  Terms of reference are now being drafted.

Please tell us your biggest problems with the current Heavy Vehicle National Law.

Send your comments to: office@alrta.org.au

HVNL CHANGES FROM 1 JULY

A national mass increase for two-axle buses and twin steer tri-axle semitrailer combinations will be among a number of changes to the Heavy Vehicle National Law and regulations starting July 1.

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said the changes would provide nationally consistent mass limits for the two classes of heavy vehicles.

“Two-axle buses equipped with dual tyres on the rear axle can operate up to 18 tonnes, conditional on the bus being equipped with some additional safety features,” Mr Petroccitto said.

“This means buses in South Australia, ACT and Tasmania can operate at the increased mass limit, similar to buses that are currently operated in Queensland, NSW and Victoria.

“Mass limits for twin steer tri-axle heavy vehicle combinations will also increase from 42.5 tonnes to 46.5 tonnes, providing more flexibility for operators.”

More information on changes to the mass limits of the semitrailer combinations and the bus changes can be found at www.nhvr.gov.au/publications

Among other changes, heavy vehicle operators using tag trailers will be required to operate under 1:1 towing mass ratio, similar to pig trailers and dog trailers.

More information on the requirements for tag trailers can be found in VSG22 – Requirements for tag trailers at www.nhvr.gov.au/vsg

All penalties will increase by CPI and access charges will increase from $72 to $73, also in line with CPI. An access fee will also be applied to all Higher Mass Limit permit applications from July 1.

More information on changes to penalties can be found at www.nhvr.gov.au/penalties, while information on NHVR fees for 2018-19 can be found at www.nhvr.gov.au/fees

The NHVR has also provided a summary of some minor changes to the Vehicle Standards, including warning sign requirements for long vehicles and road trains, rear marking plate requirements, condensate drain valve requirements and number plate markings for hydrogen and electric powered vehicles.

The changes are available in VSG 2 – Changes to heavy vehicle safety standards, at www.nhvr.gov.au/vsg

The first round of changes to national heavy vehicle registration agreed to by state and Federal governments will also begin, including:

  • a new national heavy vehicle plate and nationally consistent plate fee in participating states and territories (jurisdictions)
  • more jurisdictions removing heavy vehicle registration labels
  • the option for fleet operators across all jurisdictions to set common registration expiry dates.

Further changes to the registration system, including free read-only access to fleet registration details on a digital platform will be available later this year.

More information on the changes to the registration scheme can be found at www.nhvr.gov.au/registration

NEW TRUCK SAFETY LAWS A STEP CLOSER

New truck safety laws are a step closer, with the Queensland Parliament yesterday passing the first of two amendment bills needed to make the laws work.

One other bill still needs to be passed before the new laws come into effect on 1 October 2018. The new laws will apply in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT under a co-operative scheme arrangement.

The ATA and its member associations have advocated for the development and extension of the truck safety laws since 2012, as part of its plan to improve truck safety and eliminate prescriptive red tape.

“This is an important win for the industry. It has taken us a long time to get here but the last pieces of the new safety provisions are now in place,” ATA Chair Geoff Crouch said today.

“Safety is everyone’s responsibility, and these new laws mean customers and trucking businesses have to focus on developing and maintaining appropriate safety systems,” he said.

Together with amendments passed in 2016, the new laws introduce:

  • a strong general safety duty, including on trucking industry customers
  •  the extension of the chain of responsibility concept to cover vehicle maintenance and repairs
  • due diligence obligations on company directors and executives to ensure chain parties comply with their primary safety duty
  • maximum penalty increases for the most serious cases to bring them in line with other national safety laws and
  • the removal of red tape and unnecessary legislative requirements.

With the support from the Australian Government and NHVR, the ATA and the Australian Logistics Council have developed a master registered code of practice to help businesses comply with the new law, manage risks and improve safety.

“The master code of practice is designed to make businesses safer and ensure they are compliant with the new provisions,” Mr Crouch said.

“The ATA’s best-practice accreditation system, TruckSafe will implement the master code to help members comply with the changes and make sure they’re covered.

“Under chain of responsibility, participants in the road transport chain – including consignors and consignees – can be held accountable for safety issues on the road, so I strongly recommend that businesses become TruckSafe accredited,” he said.

More on TruckSafe accreditation

PBS RECOMMENDATIONS ENDORSED

Transport Ministers have endorsed the NTC’s recommendations arising from the review of the PBS scheme.  The recommendations include:

Recommendation 1: That states and territories identify PBS networks for each access level, and the NHVR publish a National Notice for each by end of financial year 2020–21.

This includes:

  1. assessing priority freight routes in their jurisdiction for approval as a PBS network
  2. identifying any infrastructure that falls within routes assessed under 1(a) that requires prescriptive limits (mass, dimension or other)
  3. publishing approved routes, including the prescriptive limits applied to relevant sections, online on the National Key Freight Routes Map and NHVR Journey Planner
  4. engaging with and assisting local governments within state and territory jurisdictions to assess and map their own access levels, to provide end-to-end key freight routes.

Recommendation 2: That Austroads and the NHVR:

  1. compare the methodologies used to assess infrastructure across Australia (including pavements and bridges)
  2. engage with road managers to design a nationally consistent guideline to assess infrastructure by the end of 2019
  3. transition to a nationally consistent methodology by end of financial year 2019–20
  4. produce relevant training materials for road managers to use the guidelines
  5. consider an online database that makes infrastructure mass limits or loading limits publicly available.

Recommendation 3: That the NHVR review and revise the PBS standards by the end of financial year 2018–19 and every seven years thereafter. The initial review should include (but not be limited to) consideration of:

  1. the effects of new technology, and catering to future technology
  2. the management of tyres in PBS assessments and ongoing vehicle operations
  3. whether there is a continued need for four PBS levels
  4. the best way to assess a vehicle’s impact on local amenity, public health and the environment, or whether these matters should be left to access guidelines.

Recommendation 4: That the NHVR develop and lead a comprehensive and ongoing communications plan as soon as resources permit, with the support of the states and territories, that:

  1. publicises the benefits of the PBS scheme
  2. provides information about:
  1. the background to the Performance-Based Standards
  2. their relationship to prescriptive standards
  3. application and approval processes
  4. National Notices for PBS networks
  5. route assessment guidelines and tools.

PACCAR RECEIVES TRAINING AWARD

PACCAR Australia has been awarded the 2018 Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Award for Leadership in Workforce Skills. PACCAR Australia was inducted into the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame in 2012 and this is the third time the company has been recognised with a training award by the Victorian Government.


Photo: PACCAR Australia employees with Tom Cooper, PACCAR Australia Operations Director (3rd from left), Andrew Hadjikakou, Managing Director (4th from left) and Robert Brierley, HR Manager (far right).

“It is gratifying to be recognised by the government for our work in manufacturing and skills development. We are immensely proud of our long history of manufacturing Kenworth trucks in Australia and the work we are undertaking to secure our position as the pre-eminent truck manufacturer in the country with a highly skilled workforce,” said Andrew Hadjikakou, Managing Director of PACCAR Australia.

This Award recognises the investment undertaken by PACCAR Australia in skills development of its employees, suppliers and dealer network associated with the design, launch, manufacture and aftermarket support of the Kenworth T610. The Manufacturing Hall of Fame also recognised PACCAR Australia’s recent milestone achievement of having manufactured 60,000 Kenworth trucks in Australia.

PACCAR Australia employs more than 1,100 people directly, and many thousands more through its independent dealer and supplier networks. Its supply chain includes approximately 70 major Australian suppliers located across the country, with many of those being locally-owned companies located in the Melbourne region. Depending on the model and specification, a Kenworth truck comprises around 60 percent Australian-owned resources.

Managing Director of PACCAR Australia, Andrew Hadjkakou observed;
“Manufacturing has grown for 15 consecutive months in Victoria and we are so proud to be part of that progress.

“Production of Kenworth trucks continues to increase and, with our announcement at the end of last year that assembly of DAFs will commence in the third quarter at our Bayswater Production Facility, we are optimistic this will contribute to further growth in the state, and the country.”

“The success of the Kenworth range in Australia is due to the company’s commitment to offer products that are designed and manufactured in Australia, with ongoing capital investment from PACCAR Inc. in the form of product research, design and manufacturing technology.

The Manufacturing Hall of Fame Awards, established in 2001, showcases and recognises the breadth and depth of companies and individuals involved in manufacturing and innovation within Victoria.

The Minister for Industry and Employment the Hon Ben Carroll hosted the event for more than 1,000 manufacturing industry attendees on May 28 in Melbourne. He reported manufacturing in Victoria is experiencing a growth and resurgence at a level not seen for nearly 15 years. He stated Victoria’s manufacturing industry contributes $27.7 billion to the Victorian economy, with more than 13,000 businesses employing more than 286,000 people.

NTI LANDS A DOUBLE WIN

nti is proud to have been named winner across two categories at the inaugural Insurance Business Australia Awards, held recently in Sydney:

  • Winner – Australian Underwriting Agency of the Year
  • Winner – Underwriting Agency Claims Team of the Year

The awards recognise business achievements, innovation, levels of service and commitment to the insurance industry and broader community throughout 2017, and come after what can only be described as a monumental year for the company, says nti’s Chief Executive Office, Mr. Tony Clark.

“To gain industry acknowledgement on the back of so much change and growth in 2017, is a testament to our people and our culture,” said Mr. Clark.

2017 saw nti acquire a sizable marine portfolio from joint shareholders CGU and Vero, launch a corporate rebrand across all specialty lines, and undertake their largest philanthropic initiative to date.

“As Australia’s leading specialist insurer we’re driven to maintain our position in the market, whilst challenging ourselves to innovate, increase safety, and deliver customer service that’s second to none.”

nti also received notice of maintaining LMI’s 5 Star Rating for the second year running, for Commercial Motor Claims.

LMI Claims Comparison ratings are based on quantitative and subjective data, along with policy features that are deemed integral to a stellar claims experience.

“We don’t rest on our laurels,” said Mr Clark.

“We’re here to walk the talk, and give our customers what they didn’t know they needed, when they really need it the most.”

LRTASA CONFERENCE

The ALRTA President and Executive Director will be in Adelaide this week for the LRTASA Annual State Conference and AGM to be held 15-16 June 2018 at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

Look out for a wrap up next week.

UPCOMING EVENTS

LRTAWA Conference
The LRTAWA Annual State Conference will be held 20-21 July 2018 at the Light House Beach Resort in Bunbury.

Click here for more information.

LRTAV Conference
The LRTAV Annual State Conference will be held 17-18 August 2018 in Bendigo.

Click here for more information.