ALRTA News – 29 January 2021

THANK YOU TO OUR NATIONAL SPONSOR
PACCAR & DEALER INDUSTRY FUND

Manufactured in Australia for 50 years, Australian made Kenworths are purpose built, each truck designed and manufactured for its intended task and to individual customer requirements, providing operators with a safe and comfortable environment.
 
Made with uncompromising quality for Australian conditions, you can depend upon Kenworths working harder for longer, offering superior productivity, strength and reliability.
 
For more speak to your local Kenworth dealer or visit www.kenworth.com.au/australian-made

NTC UNDER REVIEW

ALRTA has lodged a submission as part of a review of the National Transport Commission (NTC).
 
The National Transport Commission Act 2003 (the Act) requires Infrastructure and Transport Ministers’ to complete a statutory review of the NTC every six years. The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications has been tasked with overseeing the conduct of the Review.
 
The Review must make recommendations on whether the Commission should continue and whether the Act should be repealed or amended. Terms of Reference are provided as an attachment to this document.

Focus areas for the Review are:

  1. Evaluation of the National Transport Commission’s operational effectiveness
  2. Evolution of the transport reform environment – consideration of NTC’s future role and relationships
  3. Future work priorities and governance arrangements (if the Commission is to continue).

An interim report will be provided to Transport Ministers (through Infrastructure and Transport Senior Officials’ Committee) in March 2021, to facilitate a discussion by Transport Ministers at their first meeting in June 2021. The final report will be provided to the Department in-June to enable lodgement with the Infrastructure and Transport Ministers’ Meeting by August 2021.

FTC RATES TO INCREASE 1 FEB 2021

Fuel Tax Credit (FTC) rates are indexed twice each year in February and August. The CPI indexation rate applicable to 1 February 2021 is 1.009.  From 1 February 2021 the liquid fuel FTC rate will increase from 16.5cpl to 16.9cpl.

FTC rates for all fuels are available here.

BORDER CONTROLS

Friday 22 January – Victoria Update
The Victorian Government announced that due to the reduced exposure risk and low community transmission in parts of New South Wales and Queensland, a number of orange zone Local Government Areas (LGAs) will transition to green. Some Greater Sydney LGAs will also transition from red to orange.
 
The Greater Sydney LGAs of Blacktown City, Burwood, Canada Bay City, Canterbury-Bankstown, Fairfield City, Inner West, Liverpool City, Parramatta City and Strathfield Municipality will join the rest of Greater Sydney, Wollongong and Blue Mountains as orange zones. For now, Cumberland LGA will remain a red zone.
 
Commercial Freight Workers who are coming from a green zone only need a Green Zone Permit. Those coming from an orange or red zone will need to apply for a Specified Worker Permit which have been in place for the last few weeks.
 
https://www.service.vic.gov.au/services/border-permit/Transaction#details

Friday 22 January – New South Wales update
A reminder that the freight friendly COVID-19 testing pop-up sites remain operational 24 hours per day 7 days a week at the following locations:

  • Narrandera Roadhouse, Newell Highway.  
  • Tarcutta truck change over yard, Sydney Street, off Hume Highway. 
  • Taree Service Centre, Pacific Highway. 
  • Narrabarba rest area, Princes Highway. 
  • Forbes Caltex Service Centre, Newell Highway.  

Freight workers do not have to quarantine or self-isolate while they are waiting the results of their COVD-19 test if they are asymptomatic.
 
More Information
For the latest summary of border rules and testing sites click here.

ATA SAFETY AND ECONOMICS MEETINGS

ALRTA representatives have participated in meetings of the ATA Safety Committee and Economics Committee.  Important topics of discussion included fuel security, HV access and accreditation, and the NHVR Heavy Vehicle Safety Strategy.  ALRTA has lodged submissions on several of these important issues.  

GET SERIOUS ABOUT TRUCK ACCESS

The Australian, state and territory governments must get serious about real reforms to deliver better access for trucks.

In releasing the ATA’s submission on access to the national truck law review, ATA Chair David Smith said that for too long governments and their agencies had said the right things on truck access, without delivering the bold, proactive leadership needed to get real outcomes on the ground.
 


“In 2011, industry was told the Heavy Vehicle National Law would deliver up to $12.4 billion in economic benefits, mostly as a result of better access. Instead, transport industry productivity has fallen,” Mr Smith said.
 
“ATA members are disappointed at the lack of ambition of the proposed HVNL review options, which outrageously also includes an option that would allow road managers to deny access if they think freight should be moved by another transport mode. 
 
“This ill-considered idea breaches the Productivity Commission’s finding that choice of mode is a commercial decision, and that government regulation should be mode neutral. 
 
“Local governments do many things well, but they are not resourced or qualified to decide if loads of freight should go by road or rail. This proposal would make access decisions more complex and undermine productivity,” he said. 

INQUIRY INTO JOB SECURITY

The Senate Select Committee on Job Security has invited submissions from interested parties on the following issues:

  1. the extent and nature of insecure or precarious employment in Australia;
  2. the risks of insecure or precarious work exposed or exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis;
  3. workplace and consumer trends and the associated impact on employment arrangements in sectors of the economy including the ‘gig’ and ‘on-demand’ economy;
  4. the aspirations of Australians including income and housing security, and dignity in retirement;
  5. the effectiveness, application and enforcement of existing laws, regulations, the industrial relations system and other relevant policies;
  6. accident compensation schemes, payroll, federal and state and territory taxes;
  7. the interaction of government agencies and procurement policies with insecure work and the ‘on-demand’ economy; and
  8. any related matters.

Submissions are due by 31 March 2021 with the Committee to report by 30 November 2021.

FUNDING FOR WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AVAILABLE

Funding is available through Women & Leadership Australia to support the development of female leaders across Australia’s transport and logistics sector.

The initiative is providing women with grants of between $1,000 and $5,000 to enable participation in one of three leadership development courses designed for emerging through to senior leaders.

The scholarship funding must be allocated by the end of March 2021.

Expressions of Interest  – Find out more and register your interest by completing the Expression of Interest form here prior to 19 March 2021: https://www.wla.edu.au/transportlogistics.html

COVID-19 – AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL HONOUR

Do you know anyone in our Livestock/Bulk Trucking Industry who has displayed extraordinary service and achievement during the COVID-19 response and recovery, for an Australian National Honour.

The Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on 24 January 2021, “Individuals recognised for their contribution, service or achievement relating to COVID-19 will feature on a dedicated COVID-19 honours roll as well as the official Australian honours database from the Queen’s Birthday in June.”

“If you know someone who has made an outstanding contribution, on the front-line or behind the scenes, I urge you to consider nominating them for an award.”

Nominations can be made now.

For more information on Australian Honours, as well as information on how to make a nomination, visit: covidhonours.pmc.gov.au.

2021 ATA GENERAL COUNCIL ELECTION

Make your voice heard in the 2021 ATA General Council election – at the ATA, in Parliament House, in government departments and at the regulator.
 
If you drive one truck or operate a small fleet (2-5 trucks), you are urged to register to vote. It’s an opportunity to contribute to the ATA’s decisions and have your say on the critical issues affecting our industry.
 
You do not need to be in an ATA member association to vote and registering to vote is free. 
 
You could also be eligible to nominate for one of the two positions up for election. The elected representatives are entitled to attend and vote at ATA Council meetings and can join in the work of the ATA’s policy committees.
  
To nominate for the owner driver position, you must own, be purchasing or leasing one truck over 4.5 tonnes and drive it, be registered as a voter in ATA elections, and be a member of an ATA member association. 
  
To nominate for the small fleet position, you must own, be purchasing or leasing 2-5 trucks over 4.5 tonnes, be registered as a voter in ATA elections, and be a member of an ATA member association. 
 
Whether you choose to register as a voter or run for election, this is a great opportunity to contribute to the trucking industry and the ATA’s direction. 
 
Nominations and voter registrations close on 18 February 2021. 
   
Find out more, register to vote or nominate in the 2021 ATA General Council election at www.truck.net.au/elections

TRUCKSAFE INDUSTRY ACCREDIATION COUNCIL

Geoff Casey has been appointed Chair of the TruckSafe Industry Accreditation Council (TIAC).



The council is a vital part of Trucksafe’s comprehensive industry safety standards including a robust third-party auditing system.

MEETING NOTICE: ALRTA COUNCIL

Members are advised that the next meeting of the ALRTA National Council will be held via technology on Friday, 19 February 2021.

Formal advice with RSVP details will be sent to member secretariats. A hyperlink will be sent to participants prior to the meeting.

NTI ROAD SAFETY WARNING

Australia’s leading transport and logistics specialist, NTI, is urging all drivers to take it easy on the roads as residents return from holidays and prepare for the school year to begin.

With border restrictions still in place across the country, many have opted to travel in their own state these summer holidays, and as a result, there could be a greater number of vehicles on the road as families return home for Term 1.

In New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia, classes started on Wednesday 27 January 2021.

NTI CEO Tony Clark said many drivers may not be used to travelling long distances or sharing the road with heavy vehicles.

FRIDAY FUNNY

Two workers are talking.
The woman says, “I can make the boss give me the day off.”
The man replies, “And how would you do that?”
The woman says, “Just wait and see.”
She then hangs upside down from the ceiling.
The boss comes in and says, “What are you doing?”
The woman replies, “I’m a light bulb.”
The boss then says, “You’ve been working so much that you’ve gone crazy. I think you need to take the day off.”
The man starts to follow her and the boss says, “Where are you going?”
The man says, “I’m going home, too. I can’t work in the dark.”

SAVE THE DATES FOR 2021

LRTAQ Conference – Roma QLD – 9-11 April 2021
LRTASA Conference – Adelaide SA – 18-19 June 2021
LRTAV Conference – Bendigo VIC – 20-21 August 2021