ALRTA News – 2 July 2021

THANK YOU TO OUR NATIONAL SPONSOR
GOODYEAR

As a proud national sponsor of the ALRTA, Goodyear is pleased to offer special buying prices to ALRTA members.

ALRTA Members are entitled to a 10% discount off regular cash prices on commercial tyres at participating Beaurepaires stores.

Find out more

LATEST COVID-19 RESTRICITONS AROUND AUSTRALIA 

With the evolving COVID-19 situation across Australia at the moment the following links go directly to local authority websites:

For the latest information on border entry requirements for all states and territories, click on links below.

NEW SOUTH WALES
ACT
NT
QUEENSLAND
SOUTH AUSTRALIA 
TASMANIA
VICTORIA 
WESTERN AUSTRALIA 

GRANTS AND ASSISTANCE

Learn about the grants or online events delivered by your state or territory and where you can go to find more coronavirus assistance.

Along with the assistance the Australian Government has announced, you may be eligible for assistance from your State or Territory Government.

Each Australian state and territory has different financial help, restrictions and assistance for businesses affected by the coronavirus, so it’s important to stay up-to-date with new announcements.

Find Out More

PATNERSHIP DELIVERS LIVESTOCK EFFLUENT DISPOSAL POINT

A new livestock effluent disposal pit at the Mount Gambier and District Saleyards is now available to all livestock transporters. An official opening was hosted by District Council of Grant on Tuesday, 29 June 2021 at 10:00am.


 John Beer, LRTAV; Cr Barry Kuhl; Tony Pasin MP, Federal Member for Barker; Mayor Richard Sage, District Council of Grant. 

Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport Scott Buchholz said the new site was a huge win for the region’s livestock industry.

Federal Member for Barker Tony Pasin MP said the Mount Gambier disposal pit was funded by the Australian Government through the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s (NHVR) Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative.

Saleyards Manager David Wallis said the project was a joint initiative of the Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA) and the District Council of Grant (Council).

ALRTA President Scott McDonald, said that managing effluent in transit is a significant challenge for their members.

Local ALRTA member, Peter Edmonds said Mount Gambier saleyards was an ideal location for installation of a livestock effluent disposal facility.

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said the Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative had so far allocated $22.8m through 89 separate grants over the past five years.

READ THE FULL MEDIA RELEASE

HAVE A SAY ON HEAVY VEHICLE CHARGES

The NTC is currently reviewing the method used to set heavy vehicle charges. This is also known as the ‘pay as you go’ model, or PAYGO.

Project background

Anyone who owns a heavy vehicle that uses Australian roads pays a vehicle registration fee. Heavy vehicle operators also pay a road user charge on diesel fuel. 

The charges are set to ensure that those vehicles that cause more wear and tear on our roads, or those that travel further, pay more. 

State and territory governments use this money to recover what they spend to maintain and improve roads for heavy vehicles. The NTC advises transport ministers on these charges. 

The review will explore if the method we currently use to calculate charges is still fit for purpose and explore how possible changes could be implemented. 

Following this work, changes to the PAYGO model and new heavy vehicle charges may come into effect from the 2022–23 financial year. 

Learn more about this project.

How to participate 

NTC has completed research and investigation to identify a number of possible changes to the PAYGO model. The review will further explore:

  • recommended technical changes for PAYGO
  • cost allocation options
  • how changes could be implemented.

You can join an NTC online workshop to explore possible changes. Then, share your input via the NTC website. 

Submissions close Tuesday, 24 August 2021.

RSVP and have a say.

FINDINGS OF THE NTI 2021 NTARC

Join NTI on the 6th July at 1.00pm to hear about the findings of the 2021 NTARC Major Accident Investigation Report.

Register for the virtual Lunch & Learn event

ATA CALLS FOR 2.6M WIDTHS

Australia should adopt 2.6 metre truck and trailer widths, a new submission from the ATA says.

The submission on the Australian Government’s Safer freight vehicles discussion paper reveals that Australia’s out of date truck width rules are restricting the availability of zero emission trucks on the Australian market.

“While many trucking operators are eager to embrace safer, zero or low emission vehicles, they simply can’t because the Australian rules prevent trucks built to European or US widths from being used on our roads,” ATA CEO Andrew McKellar said.

“New analysis by the ATA shows that in Europe there are more than three times the number of zero emission truck models on the market than we have in Australia. In the United States, it is more than five times.

“Moving at the same time to a 2.6 metre width for trailers would deliver clear benefits for refrigerated operations, roll stability and work health and safety,” he said.

Mr McKellar said the ATA welcomed the safety package proposed in the discussion paper, which would mandate extra safety technologies for wider vehicles.

VALE STEVE POST

The Western Australian freight industry marks the passing of Transafe WA current and founding chair Steve Post after a brave battle with brain cancer.

“As chair of Transafe WA since its incorporation in 2012, his vision to provide a forum for industry to share information and progress positive change that would ensure personal and industry risk was absolutely minimised.” ATN TO READ MORE

FRIDAY FUNNY

A Queensland Police officer stopped at a farm in Maleny, and talked with an old farmer who was working on his tractor.

He told the farmer, “I have suspicion that there is cannabis growing on your property and I need to inspect your farm for illegally grown drugs right now.”

The old timer said, “Okay officer , but please don’t go in that field over there.”, as he pointed out the location.

The Queensland Cop verbally exploded saying, ” Mister, I have the authority of the State and Federal Government with me !” He instantly opened his police wallet to produce his badge and arrogantly displayed it in the farmers face.

“See this badge mate?! This badge means I am allowed by law to go wherever I wish….On any land! No questions asked! Do you understand ?!!”
 
The farmer nodded politely, apologised, he continued working on his tractor.

A short time later, the old farmer heard loud screams, looked up, and saw the cop running for his life, being chased by the farmer’s big Brahman bull with the biggest horns in town…… With every step the bull was gaining ground on the officer, and it seemed likely that he’d sure enough get gored before he reached safety.

The officer was clearly terrified. The old timer threw down his tools, ran to the fence and yelled at the top of his lungs….. “Your badge, show him your BADGE!!”

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