ALRTA News – 9 September 2022

THANK YOU TO ALRTA PARTNER – LOWES

Maximise your ALRTA membership entitlements – link your Lowes Petroleum account.

Haven’t got a Lowes account for your bulk fuel? 

Talk to a Lowes Sales Manager phone 1300 4 LOWES (1300 4 56937) or CLICK HERE

FMD INQUIRY HEARING POSTPONED

The Senate Committee Inquiry into the Adequacy of Australia’s Biosecurity Measures and Response Preparedness was postponed this week upon the news that the Queen has died.
 
ALRTA Executive Member Athol Carter and ALRTA Executive Director Mat Munro were in Canberra preparing to speak with the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee when the news came through from the Committee Secretariat at 8am that the Australian Parliament would be recessed for a two week mourning period.
 
ALRTA has recently lodged a submission to the Inquiry containing 14 recommendations including temporary closure of the Australian-Indonesian border, an improved truck wash network, establishment of roadside effluent disposal sites, clearer decontamination guidelines, improvements to NVD information, fast-tracked stress testing of movement permit systems, identification of emergency holding yards, and modelling of a road transport management deposit scheme.

LRTAWA 2022 INDUSTRY DAY

ALRTA Executive Director, Mat Munro, attended the LRTAWA Industry Day in Perth last weekend. Due to COVID movement restrictions, ALRTA representatives have not ventured to an LRTAWA event since 2019 – it was great to reconnect to our important members and association in the west.



The conference program included engagement with Main Roads WA (always a lively and productive discussion), preparedness for foot-and-mouth disease, navigating ups & downs of commerce and discussion about the Federal and WA Government’s zero emissions strategy.
 
Next year, ALRTA and LRTAWA will combine to jointly hold a national-state conference. We do hope to see you in the west in 2023! Look out for details soon.

MIGRATION SYSTEM UNDER REVIEW

The Minister for Home Affairs, Clare O’Neil has ordered a review of the Australia’s migration system.

Minister O’Neil says the system isn’t working.

She says a team of experts will start conducting a comprehensive review in coming weeks and will report back by the end of February 2023.

Last week, the Minister announced an immediate boost to Australia’s skilled migration cap for 2022-23, lifting it from 160,000 places to 195,000.

NHVR FOCUS ON ROAD TRAIN TRAILERS

NHVR Safety and Compliance Officers are reporting a significant increase in road train combinations using trailers that don’t meet the minimum safety requirements.

Trailers designed for use in road train combinations are constructed and specified to be able to withstand the significantly higher loads and stresses to which the brakes, tow couplings and drawbars are subjected.

The NHVR has published information to help operators and other parties in the Chain of Responsibility to understand the specific requirements for these trailers.
 
See the Road train trailer requirements for details about how to ensure vehicles used in road train combinations are operating safely.

HML WITHOUT IAP IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Operators of eligible livestock carriers, AB-triples and Type 1 road trains – including non-modular and modular B-triples – in South Australia can now operate at increased mass limits on designated routes, providing their vehicle has certified road-friendly suspension.

NHVR Chief Regulatory Policy and Standards Officer Don Hogben said the new South Australian Class 3 Road friendly Suspension Mass Exemption Notice 2022 allows certain heavy vehicles and combinations fitted with certified road-friendly suspension to operate at masses equivalent to Higher Mass Limits, without needing to be enrolled in the Intelligent Access Program (IAP).

“The notice replaces the South Australia Class 3 (HML Application) Mass Exemption 2021, and includes beneficial changes to vehicle eligibility and networks,” Don said.

“This notice represents significant progress towards removing the need for multiple permits in South Australia.”

Australian Trucking Association Chair David Smith welcomed the notice as a significant win for Class 3 operators in South Australia.

“This is an important step towards national harmonisation and improved productivity for heavy vehicle movements, and that’s good for the industry and the local economy,” David said.

Click here to view the notice and accompanying Operator’s Guide.

CHANGES TO B-TRIPLE RULES IN QLD

QLD Transport and Main Roads (TMR) has recently made amendments to the Transport Operations (Road Use Management–Road Rules) Regulation 2009 (Queensland Road Rules) for B-triple road train combinations.

Changes from 9 September 2022 

  • The definition of a B-triple road train combination in the Queensland Road Rules will align with the Heavy Vehicle National Law 
  • B-triple road train combinations will be permitted to travel at speeds of up to 100 km/h.

 Please note: all other road train combinations are only permitted to travel at speeds of up to 90 km/h.

B-triple definition

The definition of a B-triple road train combination in The Queensland Road Rules is a prime mover towing 3 semitrailers:

a)    the first semitrailer being attached directly to the prime mover by a fifth wheel coupling; and

b)    the second semitrailer being mounted on the rear of the first semitrailer by a fifth wheel coupling on the first semitrailer; and

c)    the third semitrailer being mounted on the rear of the second semitrailer by a fifth wheel coupling on the second semitrailer.

RED MEAT AMBASSADORS PROGRAM

People passionate about telling the great story of the Australian red meat industry will have the chance to sharpen their communication skills as part of Meat & Livestock Australia’s Ambassadors for the Red Meat Industry program.



The program is now taking expressions of interest for the 2022-23 financial year. It is an intensive development opportunity that offers participants professional training in community engagement, communication through media and social media, and building trust with consumers.
 
MLA Industry Engagement Manager Lindsay Kasprowicz said the most recent round of workshops were well-received by participants.
 
“More than 100 people from across the red meat value chain took part in the 2021-22 workshops, including producers and industry professionals as well as those from the processing, retail, feedlot, research, veterinarian, stock agency, technology and transport sectors,” she said. “Once participants had completed the workshop, they were invited to join the program alumni and were provided with updates on MLA’s community engagement activities and given the opportunity to participate in those activities, including Virtual Classrooms and agricultural shows.”
 
The 2022-23 Ambassadors workshops will be held in:

  • Adelaide, 12-14 October 2022
  • Victoria, 30 November – 2 December 2022
  • New South Wales, 1-3 March 2023
  • Northern Territory, 20-22 March 2023
  • Queensland, 19-21 April 2023

Ms Kasprowicz said the program is focused on creating ambassadors who have the skills, knowledge and confidence to engage with the community across a range of activities.
 
“The program is ideal for anyone in the red meat supply chain who is passionate about community engagement and outreach, and are keen to build their skills in communication, building trust and engagement,” she said. “Participants will gain new skills to effectively communicate with consumers in red meat production, industry sustainability and best practice farming.
 
“MLA’s consumer sentiment research shows our industry has great support from the Australian community but we need to be proactive in reaching out and engaging with them on the issues and concerns which matter most to them. This program will equip our industry’s finest to do just that.”
 
Find out more on the MLA website: MLA Ambassadors for the Red Meat Industry Program

LRTAWA 2022 AGM ELECTION RESULTS

ALRTA congratulates the officer bearers elected at the LRTAWA AGM on 3 September 2022:

  • President: David Fyfe
  • Vice President Livestock: Peter Warburton
  • Vice President Bulk: Matt Henderson
  • Treasurer: Darren Bairstow
  • Secretary: Rob Anspach

DRIVING THE CONVERSATION – R U OK? 

R U OK? Day is a reminder that if you think someone might be struggling with life, then trust your gut and ask ‘are you OK?’

Though it may not always be obvious when someone is struggling, to help notice the signs and start the conversation, Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds have prepared a conversation guide that provides practical tips to learn when and how to ask ‘are you OK?’

To view the guide and more information about Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds and R U OK?, follow the link https://lnkd.in/gCUn6bg2

bp GOES HEALTHY

bp Australia will offer healthier cooked meals at 29 participating bp truck stop sites across Australia to encourage healthier food choices for workers in the broader road transport, warehousing and logistics industries. This project is an initiative of Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds (HHTS) and bp developed in partnership with Nutrition Australia.
 
Users of the Healthy Heads App will receive an instant $5 discount when purchasing from this menu at the 29 participating bp sites for a limited time.

Read the press release for more information.

Participating truck stop sites:

  • New South Wales: bp Beresfield, bp Eastern Creek, bp Jerilderie, bp Marulan Northbound, bp Marulan Southbound, bp Nambucca Heads, bp North Albury, bp Parkes, bp Potts Hill. 
  • Northern Territory: bp Darwin. 
  • Queensland: bp Aratula, bp Archerfield, bp Goondiwindi, bp Paget, bp Port of Brisbane, bp  Toowoomba Westbound, bp Townsville. 
  • South Australia: bp Port Augusta, bp Wingfield. 
  • Victoria: bp Dandenong, bp Energy, bp Laverton North, bp Northpoint, bp Outbound Somerton, bp Rockbank Inbound, bp Rockbank Outbound, bp Truganina.
  • Western Australia: bp Kewdale, bp Muchea.

SAVE THE DATES FOR 2023

LBRCA – 9-11 March 2023 – TAMWORTH