ALRTA News – 25 June 2021

THANK YOU TO OUR NATIONAL SPONSOR
BYRNE TRAILERS

Byrne Stainless Steel B-Double Cattle Trailer was recently delivered to LRTAV member Wade Hannasky from Echuca Victoria.

Byrne Trailers is a proud Australian Family owned and operated business. Leading the way into the future in Livestock Transport design and engineering.

Visit ByrneTrailers website.

COVID-19 LATEST

There is an emerging COVID-19 hotspot centred around several Sydney LGAs including:

  • Bayside
  • Canada Bay
  • City of Sydney
  • Inner West
  • Randwick
  • Waverley
  • Woollahra

Several states have announced new rules for border crossings for persons from these areas. The NSW Government is continually reviewing lockdown rules. For the latest summary of border rules and testing sites click here.

ALRTA NATIONAL COUNCIL

The ALRTA National Council met this week via Zoom link. Issues discussed included: Skills shortages, primary producer registration, access management systems, loading schemes, fatigue and PBS.  ALRTA Council will next meet in August 2021, including an AGM. Our guests included Byrne Trailers, NHVR and State Growth Tasmania.



ALRTA National and State Presidents also met earlier in the week to consider the agenda and consult with their state executive committees.

FUEL SECURITY WIN

Liquid and diesel fuel are critical to Australia’s economy, with 98 per cent of energy for the transport sector sourced from liquid fuel.
 
Despite this, Australia has dangerously low fuel stocks with only 20 days of consumption cover for diesel. That means that during a fuel disruption, after 20 days there would likely be no fuel left for trucks to transport livestock or deliver food from farmers to consumers.
 
Since 2014, the Australian Trucking Association and its members including ALRTA have been campaigning for improved fuel security, and this week there has been a major announcement.
 
Parliament have passed two fuel security bills that will improve Australia’s fuel security and keep the trucking industry moving in times of emergency.
 
A significant win for industry, the bills will improve Australia’s stocks of transport fuels and support continued domestic fuel production by establishing a minimum stockholding obligation that will require fuel importers and refiners to maintain a minimum level of transport fuels, including diesel.
 
This will strengthen the trucking industry’s capability to withstand major fuel disruptions and can keep Australia supplied in times of emergency. Combined with the Government’s $200 million program for building new diesel domestic storage, this represents a significant boost to fuel security.
 
To find out more about the ATA’s lobbying priorities, head to www.truck.net.au

BARNABY RETURNS AS FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE MINISTER

The Hon Barnaby Joyce MP won a leadership spill this week to reassume leadership of the Nationals. Shortly afterwards, Barnaby was sworn in as Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, a portfolio he held prior to resigning to the back bench.
 
ALRTA thanks the Hon Michael McCormack MP for his support during his Ministerial term and we welcome Deputy Prime Minister Joyce to the portfolio.

ROAD USER CHARGE INCREASE

From 1 July 2021, the road user charge will increase from 25.8 cents per litre to 26.4 cents per litre. This means the fuel tax credit rate for liquid fuels used in heavy vehicles for travelling on public roads will change to 16.3 cents per litre.
 
From 1 July 2021, excise rates will also increase for biodiesel manufactured in Australia. This means the fuel tax credit rate for B100 used for all other business uses will change to 8.5 cents per litre.
 
You can view the latest rates at ato.gov.au/fueltaxcreditrates
 
These fuel tax credit rates may increase on 2 August 2021 when the next indexation takes effect.

Fuel tax credits are indexed based on the upward movement of the CPI. The CPI will be released on 28 July 2021, and we will advise you of any changes to the rates at that time. Be sure to bookmark the above fuel tax credit rates webpage as it is updated any time the rates change.
 
Please share this information with your members and networks.

TRUCKING’S 2021 FUTURE LEADERS

Ten of Australia’s young trucking professionals have been welcomed to the 2021 Daimler Future Leaders’ Forum – a career-defining program that nurtures the next generation of industry leaders. 

Delivered by the Australian Trucking Association in partnership with Daimler Truck and Bus Australia Pacific, the Future Leaders’ Forum gives young leaders the tools and training needed to become strong, knowledgeable industry advocates. 

Representing ATA member associations, Daimler Truck and Bus and the ATA’s TruckSafe accreditation scheme, the program participants come from across the country in many diverse roles.  

“Our 2021 Future Leaders represent a wide array of industry professions, from mechanics and directors to operations management, finance and technology,” ATA Chair David Smith said.  

“Together with Daimler Truck and Bus, we are committed to supporting the development of young leaders who have demonstrated a commitment to make positive change. 

“Now in its fourth year, the program addresses the issues of today, including safety, building business productivity and recruiting skilled and motivated employees,” he said. 

The 2021 program will see participants meet in Canberra for two days of intensive workshops with mentorship from experts in leadership, media and political training. During these workshops, the cohort will collaborate to develop an industry advocacy project before presenting the results at the ATA’s Trucking Australia conference in September. 

ALRTA Future Leader Candidate: Scott McDonald
 
Scott McDonald and his brother Stephen operate McDonald Brothers Transport based in Tamworth NSW.  The business grew from just one truck in 2000 soon after Scott finished a butchery apprenticeship.  These days the business operates a fleet of tippers, crates, flattops and dropdeck trailers, servicing all types of rural transport tasks. 
 
Scott McDonald was elected ALRTA National President at the September 2020 AGM, assuming the role from 1 October.  Scott was the former ALRTA Vice President and LBRCA representative to ALRTA.

LRTASA CONFERENCE A WINNER

ALRTA President, Scott McDonald and ALRTA Executive Director, Mat Munro, attended the LRTASA Annual Conference at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre last weekend.  Around 280 delegates were welcomed to the event by SA Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, the Hon Corey Wingard MP.  



Other speakers included Federal Senator Susan McDonald; SA Shadow Treasurer, the Hon Stephen Mullighan MP; and NHVR CEO, Sal Petroccitto. Of course the conference dinner, cocktail function and fund raising auction were a blast.


Mat Munro, Scott McDonald, Senator Susan McDonald, Frank Tedesco, Wayne Buckerfield.

After a one year hiatus in 2020 due to COVID-19, It was really great to catch up with so many members, friends, sponsors and other industry participants in a safe and welcoming environment. We can only hope that all of our state associations can do likewise in 2021-22. Please make sure you make the effort to come along and support the associations that support you.

ALMA TRUCK WASH SURVEY

The Australian Livestock Markets Association is conducting a short survey about the use and adequacy of Australian truck washes.  The survey takes less than 5 minutes and can be found here.

NO NEW RED TAPE FOR MANURE RECEIVAL

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has welcomed a decision by the Victorian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) not to impose new paperwork, practice changes or penalties associated with receival of manure on Victorian farms. LRTAV members had also been concerned about the prospect of changes and made high-level representations on the matter.
 
VFF will continue with a campaign to no longer designate manure as an industrial waste, citing the important role it plays in farm carbon and nutrient cycles.

ATA – TMC ONLINE

ATA is excited to announce the return of TMC Online, an innovative and interactive online forum that will bring together fleet, workshop and maintenance professionals, mechanics, engineers and business operators.

Held from 27-28 July 2021, TMC Online will feature both live and on-demand content developed with input from the ATA Industry Technical Council and the wider trucking industry including:

  • electric trucks
  • new support for employing apprentices
  • vehicle safety technology
  • buying new workshop equipment with temporary instant expensing

Registration for TMC Online is free of charge and will be open in early July. Save the date and add to your diary now.

NEW RULES FOR LIVESTOCK WELFARE ARE COMING – ARE YOU READY?

The Queensland Government committed to adopting the Australian Animal Welfare Standards for Cattle, Sheep and Livestock at Saleyards and Depots following their approval at a national level. On 1 July 2021 new requirements for the humane and considerate treatment of cattle and sheep in Queensland, and all livestock at saleyards and depots will come into effect.

The regulation relating to the spaying of cattle by non-veterinarians will commence on 1 January 2022. This delayed commencement will allow reasonable time for non-veterinarians to complete the mandatory training to continue to provide this service.

The new codes of practice will be mandatory under the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 and will replace the current voluntary codes of practice.
These new requirements are vital for market access and consumer confidence as they will demonstrate to industry, international trading partners and the community that standards for animal welfare have been implemented.

Queensland producers already maintain a high standard of animal welfare. These new standards will bring Queensland in line with other states and territories by applying consistent legislation and enforcement across Australia.

All people responsible for the care and management of cattle and sheep in Queensland, and all livestock at saleyards and depots, will need to familiarise themselves with the new standards and ensure they understand what they will be required to do.

It will be the responsibility of any person in charge of the animal to make sure these requirements are met. This includes anyone who is in control of the animals including owners, transporters, saleyard operators and anyone employed to manage or handle livestock.

The new codes of practice are currently available online, as are the national animal welfare standards and guidelines:

For more information on the new codes of practice, please contact the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries by phone on 13 25 23 or email info@daf.qld.gov.au.

Click for some Questions & Answers

FRIDAY FUNNY

When Tom arrived at the truck dealership to pick up his truck after a service, he was told the keys had been locked in it.

Tom went to the service department and found a mechanic working feverishly to unlock the driver’s side door.

As Tom watched from the passenger side, he instinctively tried the door handle and discovered that it was unlocked.

‘Hey,’ he announced to the mechanic, ‘its open!’

The mechanic replied, ‘I know. I already did that side.’

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