ALRTA News – 18 June 2021

THANK YOU TO OUR NATIONAL SPONSOR
CUMMINS

 Improvements made to the X15 lineup have been focused around your needs.

It’s more than just providing the most efficient engine that meets Euro VI standards.

It’s also about providing an engine that works for you.

With a focus on uptime, fuel economy, performance and minimising maintenance cost, the X15 lineup is the best it’s ever been.
 
For more information visit our website today! https://cummins.com.au

ALRTA MEETS WITH SENATOR MCDONALD

ALRTA Executive Director, Mat Munro, has met with Queensland Federal Nationals Senator, Susan McDonald at Australian Parliament House this week.   Senator McDonald is a proud supporter of regional Australia with family connections in agriculture and mining. The Senator is the current Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, and Deputy Chair of the related References Committee.


Photo:  Mat Munro and Senator McDonald. 

Discussions were wide ranging dealing with many topical rural transport issues and the imminent report arising from the Senate Inquiry into the Importance of a Viable, Safe and Efficient Road Transport Industry.
 
Senator McDonald is a keynote speaker at this weekend’s LRTASA Annual Conference.
 
ALRTA President, Scott McDonald, and ALRTA Executive Director, Mat Munro, are also speaking at the LRTASA Annual Conference.

FEES AND HVNL FINES TO INCREASE

NHVR access fees will increase by $1 from Thursday, July 1, 2021. Fees will also increase for National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme modules. These increases are in line with CPI as prescribed under the Heavy Vehicle (General) National Regulation.
 
Heavy Vehicle National Law penalties and fines will also increase in line with CPI.
 
Click here for the new NHVR fee schedule
 
Click here for the new HVNL penalty and fines schedule

NATIONAL WAGE CASE DECISION

The Minimum Wage Panel of the Fair Work Commission has determined to increase all modern award classification scales by 2.5% (rounded to the nearest 10 cents). This includes all Federal road transport and clerks awards.
 
This Federal Minimum Wage for employees not covered by an award will rise by $18.80 to $772.60 per week.
 
The increases will apply to the first pay period after 1 July 2021. 

CHANGES TO NSW PRIMARY PRODUCER REGISTRATION LAWS

A bill has introduced into the NSW Parliament that will increase penalties for falsely claiming a registration concession and empower authorised officers to obtain information to determine a person’s eligibility for a registration concession.
 
The Road Transport Legislation Amendment Bill 2021 [NSW] consolidates powers and definitions to deal with primary producer concessions under the Road Transport Act 2013 and related regulations.  The bill will also introduce a new threshold test requiring applicants for primary producer registration concessions to provide a statement from an accountant or tax agent that more than 50 per cent of income is derived from primary production activities in a normal season.
 
The maximum penalties for corporations making false statements or falsely claiming a registration concession will be $11,000.  The penalties will not however apply to farm partnerships or trusts. The scheme will continue to prohibit use of concessional vehicles for carriage of goods not connected with primary production or for hire to other parties. The NSW government will rely on existing penalties to punish misuse of a concession, which may include registration suspension.  
 
All in all, this bill appears to be largely aimed at addressing misuse of the concessional scheme by transport companies with a minor interest in primary production.  For farmers who are eligible to participate in the scheme, but who misuse the scheme, little will change except that authorised officers will have more specific powers to compel production of information relating to compliance with conditions.  

CARRIER CHARGES WITH AIDING THEFT

Operation Topography undertaken by the Western Australia Police Rural Crime Squad has laid charges against a WA carrier Sponghaul as part of the state’s largest alleged cattle theft operation. In the most recent phase of the operation several individuals have been charged with the theft and sale of 803 cattle worth around $800,000.

ALRTA NATIONAL MEMBER CHAPTER MEETS

The ALRTA Member Chapter met via teleconference this week to discuss issues ahead of next week’s ALRTA National Council meeting. Participants included Robert Cavanagh, Gordon Martin, Ross Fraser, Scott McDonald and Mat Munro. 

MEETING NOTICE: ALRTA COUNCIL

Members are advised that the ALRTA National Council will meet via teleconference on Friday 25 June 2021. Please raise any issues you wish discussed with your State Member Association. 

Our National and State Association Presidents will also meet prior to Council on Tuesday, 22 June 2021. 

FRIDAY FUNNY

Bill’s garage door needed repairing.

The repairman told him that one of the problems was that he did not have a ‘large’ enough motor on the opener.

Bill thought for a minute, and said that he had the largest motor made at that time, a 1/2 horsepower.

The repairman shook his head and said, ‘You need a 1/4 horsepower.’

Bill responded that 1/2 horsepower was larger than 1/4 horsepower. 

Repairman said, ‘NOOO, it’s not. Four is larger than two.’

SAVE THE DATES FOR 2021

LRTAQ Conference – Roma QLD – 16-17 July 2021 – Register Here
LRTAWA Industry Day – Perth WA – 14 August 2021
LRTAV Conference – Bendigo VIC – 20-21 August 2021
LTAT/National Combined Conference – Hobart TAS – 22-23 October 2021