ALRTA News – 3 June 2022

BYRNE TRAILERS – ALRTA PARTNER

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

Elmore Haulage recently took delivery of a 4×2 Convertible B-Double

Specifications include: 
BPW Airbag Suspension & Axles
Alloy 10 Stud Wheels
Light weight Composite Sheep decking
Effluent Tanks with Auto Valves   

ByrneTrailers website.

FEDERAL MINISTRY ANNOUNCED

The Federal Labor Ministry was announced and sworn in this week. Key appointments include:

  • Minister Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government – Catherine King.
  • Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport – Carol Brown.
  • Minister Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Emergency Management – Murray Watt.
  • Minister Regional Development, Local Government and Territories – Kristy McBain.
  • Minister Employment and Workplace Relations – Tony Burke.

It has also been confirmed that Federal Labor has secured a 77 seat majority in the House of Representatives which means that a Labor Speaker can be appointed without the need for a deal with minor parties. It also means that the ‘teals’ will not have the balance of power and may therefore be of little influence.
 
Labor will not secure an outright majority in the Senate. At this stage it appears that Labor will need support from The Greens and at least one other Senator (of which there are several independent or minor party Senators to choose from).

WATT TO BAN SHEEP EXPORTS BY AIR

Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt has announced that Labor’s live sheep export ban will cover both sea and air. 
 
Sea export mortality rates have declined dramatically under the new rules imposed by the previous Coalition Government. Of 22,572 sheep exported by air in 2021 there was just one mortality.
 
There is currently no timeline for the export ban. The Minister has promised to consult with industry and other stakeholders before action is taken.

ALRTA SEEKS RECOGNITION OF RAMP STANDARD

ALRTA has written to the QLD State Development and Regional Industries Committee recommending that within all QLD legislation intended to codify the Australian Standards and Guidelines for the Welfare of Animals – Land Transport of Livestock:

  • references to livestock loading ramps or forcing yards be replaced by, or complemented with, a reference to AS 5340:2020.
  • inspectors be empowered to give animal welfare directions to a person for non-compliance with a compulsory code requirement, including failure to conform with AS 5340:2020.

The Committee is currently reviewing the Animal Care and Protection Amendment Bill 2022 (the Bill). Among other proposals, the Bill will amend current QLD laws to provide inspectors with a power to give an animal welfare direction to a person for non-compliance with a compulsory code requirement. These provisions allow an inspector to give a direction to a person who may not be in charge of an animal but has obligations under a compulsory code of practice. For example, a direction to remove protrusions, injury risks or faulty equipment from vehicles that are used for transporting livestock.

ALRTA considers this new power reasonable and clearly already intended under the Land Transport Standards. Commercial livestock transport vehicles are overwhelmingly in good condition and unlikely to be targeted. Some farm trucks however may be deemed unsafe and may not meet modern animal welfare expectations.

Notably the Bill also generally prohibits the transportation of unsecured dogs. There is a specific exemption for dogs used to work livestock.

TRANSPORT AND LAIRAGE WEBINAR 

ALRTA and State Association Members attended a webinar on livestock transport and lairage hosted by Meat and Livestock Australia and the Australian Lot Feeders Association. The forum covered the key outcomes of research into effluent generation when transporting feedlot cattle.  Studies also looked at the effect of curfews and lairage prior to slaughter on meat products.
 
ALRTA will provide members with a summary of research outcomes when final reports are available.
 
Presentations were also given by the NHVR on chain of responsibility and by the NZ government on their successful approach to establishing effluent disposal infrastructure for heavy vehicles. ALRTA representatives have previously visited NZ to inspect facilities and speak with decision makers.

COVID – LOOKING FORWARD, LOOKING BACK

ALRTA Executive Director, Mat Munro, participated in a joint industry-government meeting to consider lessons learned from the national-state COVID response and to plan ahead for similar circumstances.

While limited in its decision-making power, the working party of industry-government stakeholders convened by the Federal Government during the COVID pandemic was useful for developing national protocols and guidelines, as well as facilitating discussion and access to decision-makers.

The future role of the group is under consideration, however it is fair to say that already in 2022 there have been several new emergencies that have benefited from a nationally coordinated response (e.g. Adblue shortage, fuel prices, labour shortages). In the absence of specific emergencies to deal with immediately, the working group could at least undertake scenario modelling to be best prepared for the next emergency to hit the trucking sector.

FATIGUE TOOLBOX TALK 

To help all heavy vehicle drivers get home safely the National Road Safety Partnership Program (NRSPP) is producing a series of toolbox talks for the heavy vehicle transport industry. The first toolbox talk in the series focused on Driver Distraction, the latest is on Fatigue.

The video features interviews with drivers from BINGO Industries, Holcim and TOLL. Each give their own tips and stories on fatigue.

The package also contains:

  • A generic overview of Toolbox Talk Discussion and how it can be applied to work driving safety, including a step by step process to assist team leaders/managers and facilitators to lead a Toolbox Talk discussion.
  • An aid for discussion
  • Topic background information and fact sheet
  • Participant attendance record and self-assessment sheets
  • Discussion review sheet
  • A poster
  • Supporting PowerPoint Slides

Did you know that in 2020 8% of all truck losses in Australia were caused by fatigue? You can download the package here:

ALRTA LEADERSHIP MEETINGS 

The ALRTA National Driver and Animal Welfare Committee met this week to discuss a range of issues including livestock loading schemes, loading densities, effluent, political developments and a forward work program.
 
On Tuesday next week, ALRTA will convene a member forum to discuss and consider key elements of an ideal nationally harmonised livestock loading scheme. It is anticipated that NHVR will release a discussion paper on this topic soon.
 
On Friday next week, ALRTA National Council will meet to consider important issues and strategy following the recent change of government at the Federal Election.

ELECTION RESULTS: LBRCA EXECUTIVE

ALRTA congratulates the following persons elected at the LBRCA AGM on 28 May 2022:

President: Wade Lewis, Agrigrowers Logistics Tamworth
Immediate Past President: Paul Pulver
Vice President (Bulk): Jeremy Horne, Horne Ag Logistics Hillston
Vice President (Livestock): Robert Cavanagh, Cavanagh’s Stockmaster Tamworth
Secretary: Tracey Boschetti, P&T Boshetti Coleambally
Treasurer: Steve Hopkins, Hopkins Transport Tamworth
Regulator Rep: Graeme Hoare, Martins Stock Haulage Scone
Sponsorship Rep: Stephen Haslem, Walcha Carrying Co Walcha
Fleet Operators (Livestock): Stocktrans Glen Innes and Martins Stock Haulage Scone
Fleet Operators (Bulk): Divall’s Earthmoving and Bulk Haulage Goulburn and Multiquip Griffith

ALRTA also recognises the enormous contribution of outgoing LBRCA President Paul Pulver over the past three years. Paul is currently travelling around Australia enjoying his new status as a retiree (but we doubt a man with such passion will be able to stay away from the industry entirely). 

SAVE THE DATES FOR 2022

LRTASA  (SA) -17-18 June 2022 – Adelaide SA – Registration
ALRTA/LRTAV National Combined Conference -12-13 August 2022 – All Seasons Bendigo VIC – Information