THANKS TO OUR NATIONAL PARTNER
bp
Do you have a bp Account? Are you a Qantas Business Rewards member? How does getting extra Qantas points sound? This is a great incentive for ALRTA members who do not have a bp account.
Sign up to BP Plus by March 31, and your business could earn 10,000 bonus Qantas Points. Plus, earn an extra 10,000 bonus points when you fuel up each month for the first 9 months.
Use Code QBR100ALRTA. Min. fuel volume criteria & T&Cs apply*.
T& Cs
*To earn bonus Qantas Points with BP Plus your business must 1) successfully sign-up for a BP Plus account between 15 January 2022 and 31 March 2022, 2) be approved for a BP Plus account, and 3) be a Qantas Business Rewards member, or within thirty (30) calendar days of being approved for a bp Plus account, become a Qantas Business Rewards member.
Approved businesses will earn 10,000 bonus Qantas Points upon approval of a BP Plus account. Qantas Points will be awarded within 6 weeks of approval of a BP Plus account.
Your business will earn an additional 10,000 bonus Qantas Points by purchasing 1,000 or more litres of fuel in each calendar month (for up to 9 calendar months) following BP Plus account approval; up to a maximum of 90,000 bonus Qantas Points.
Bonus Qantas Points for each month will be awarded within 6 weeks of each monthly account invoice payment. bp Plus and Qantas Business Rewards terms and conditions apply. Qantas reserves the right to determine the award of bonus Qantas Points to eligible customers. Refer to BP Plus Terms & Conditions and Qantas Business Rewards Terms & Conditions.
WARRNAMBOOL EFFLUENT PIT ENTERS OPERATIONAL TESTING PHASE
The Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA) has partnered with Warrnambool City Council to establish a livestock effluent disposal pit at Warrnambool’s South-West Victoria Livestock Exchange (SWVLX). Preliminary works on the facility commenced in December 2021 with operational testing now underway.
The new effluent disposal facility will complement similar sites built in cooperation with Horsham Regional Livestock Exchange and Mount Gambier and District Saleyards.
Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport Scott Buchholz said the effluent disposal site will be a welcome addition to the region.
“This latest site is another positive step towards establishing a network of effluent disposal facilities to keep our livestock and transport sectors moving.”
“Livestock transporters will be able to access the site, discharge tanks and continue their trip safely and efficiently.”
Saleyards Manager Paul White said, “The newly installed pit provides an opportunity for transporters to dispose of accumulated livestock effluent either at the end of their journey to the saleyards, or on their way to deliver a consignment further afield,”
“Evidently there are too few locations for transporters to properly dispose of effluent along the road network. The ALRTA offered $50,000 (ex GST) in funding to support planning and construction of an effluent disposal bay. Council will deliver this project to effectively provide an opportunity for livestock transporters to dispose of effluent in southwest Victoria,” he said.
ALRTA President Scott McDonald said, “Managing effluent in transit is a significant challenge for our members. Effluent capture tanks installed on purpose-built livestock trailers do a reasonable job of containment however there is a consequential need for transporters to access suitable facilities for effluent disposal when tanks become full in transit and at ‘end of journey’ facilities.”
“Livestock effluent disposal facilities benefit the livestock supply chain and the community. They improve safety by ensuring cleaner roads and improved animal welfare outcomes and help to reduce the risk of non-compliance with biosecurity, environment and load restraint laws. That’s why the ALRTA is actively engaging with industry stakeholders and governments to develop a national network of effluent disposal points.”
“Our association greatly appreciates the support of the livestock transport industry demonstrated by Warrnambool City Council by building an effluent disposal pit in their saleyards.” he said.
The project is funded by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s (NHVR) Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative (HVSI), supported by the Federal Government.
NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said, “It’s great to see work nearing completion to deliver a facility strategically located at one of Australia’s livestock hubs,”
“I congratulate ALRTA on the development of a new site that will support the livestock sector and deliver safety benefits for all road users.”
ALL EYES ON FEDERAL BUDGET WEEK
The ALRTA Executive Director, Mat Munro, will attend a Federal Budget Night dinner at Parliament House next week. The unveiling of the 2022-23 Federal Budget is a prelude to the announcement of an election date and formal commencement of the election campaign.
Federal Treasurer Frydenberg and Mat Munro.
A key area to watch will be any announcements around a possible reduction in fuel exercise tax (either permanently or temporarily) to ease the impact of dramatic increases in fuel prices. As it currently stands, only around half of the money raised via the 44 cent per litre fuel tax is actually spent on roads and road infrastructure – despite the tax nominally existing for this purpose.
Recent research has demonstrated that $127.3 billion was raised via fuel excise over the past decade, with just $68.4 billion actually spent on roads, rail and cycle paths.
THE END OF WORK DIARIES?
Work diaries could be abolished if the ATA’s draft Road Transport Act policy becomes law.
The ATA is pushing to break the stalemate in the National Transport Commission’s review of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) by drafting the Road Transport Act. The act would replace the current HVNL.
The draft policy has a number of important proposals, including key measures to tackle fatigue management. Under the draft policy, every business operating trucks would need to address driver fatigue in its safety management system (SMS).
The regulations would set out maximum work hours for non-certified businesses.
Certified businesses could exceed that level with appropriate risk controls.
Businesses would be required to keep records of driver work hours. They would not need to use official work diaries. Minor fatigue/work diary offences would be eliminated.
Long term fitness for duty would be handled through the licensing system. All heavy vehicle drivers would be required to have regular medicals against fit for purpose medical standards.
ATA Chief of Staff, Bill McKinley briefed the ATA Council this week about the draft policy.
The ATA has also briefed the National Transport Commission (NTC) and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.
You can see the presentation about the draft policy on the ATA website.
This week, ALRTA met with recently appointed independent consultant on the HVNL Review, Ken Kanofski. ALRTA National Council will consider progress of the review and policy options on 8 April 2022.
HYDROGEN HIGHWAY FOR EASTERN STATES
Australia’s first renewable hydrogen refuelling network will be built along the nation’s busiest freight route, thanks to collaboration between Victoria, NSW and Queensland.
The Victorian government will invest $10 million to build at least four renewable hydrogen refuelling stations between Sydney and Melbourne.
The funding will be matched by the NSW Government.
The $20 million funding will build the network and provide grants for Australia’s first long-haul hydrogen fuel cell electric freight trucks – taking advantage of the greater efficiency for freight through fast refuelling, increased load capacity and range.
NHVR PROSECUTION UPDATE
SA Cement Company
Charges have been laid against a cement company and its executives following an eight-month investigation led by South Australia Police, where a heavy vehicle driver was killed in Piccadilly on 12 October 2020.
It is alleged that the South Australian company, its owner/Managing Director, and another manager knew the heavy vehicle was defective but allowed it to be used on the road. They have been charged with Category 1, 2 and 3 offences under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL).
“Companies and executives must ensure the safety of their transport activities. If they ignore their responsibilities under the HVNL, they will be held to account,” NHVR Director of Prosecutions Belinda Hughes said.
Click here to read about the charge
Another SA Prosecution
The NHVR has filed charges against a transport company and its Director/Administration Manager.
South Australia Police commenced an investigation following a fatal crash involving a car and a road train, killing a woman, on the Augusta Highway near Red Hill on 27 December 2020.
Based on the investigation by the South Australia Police Heavy Vehicle Enforcement Unit, category 2 charges have been laid under the Heavy Vehicle National Law.
NHVR Director of Prosecutions Belinda Hughes said, “Companies and their executives must comply with their obligations to ensure the safety of their drivers, vehicles and transport activities.”
The matter is listed for a first mention in the Adelaide Magistrates’ Court on 22 April 2022.
SAVE THE DATES FOR 2022
LBRCA (NSW) -26 -28 May 2022 – Wagga Wagga NSW – Information & Registration
LRTASA (SA) -17-18 June 2022 – Adelaide SA – Registration
ALRTA/LRTAV National Combined Conference -12-13 August 2022 – All Seasons Bendigo VIC – Information
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