NHVR Prosecution Orders – Australian Livestock & Rural Transporters Association

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FEDERAL BUDGET 2022-23

All eyes in Canberra this week have been on the first Federal Labor Budget in almost a decade.

Looking at the bigger picture, inflation is expected to peak at 7.75% later this year (it has just hit 7.3%). GDP growth is expected to fall from 3.25% down to 1.5% next year. Unemployment forecast to rise to 4.5% mid-2024. The Budget deficit will fall to $36.9b.

Two centre pieces of the Budget are a new accord to build 1,000,000 new affordable houses and 480,000 fee-free TAFE places over 4 years to address key skills shortages.

Infrastructure spending will decrease over the next 4 years by $6.5, but remains relatively high with $120b of spending expected over the next 10 years. Concerningly, much of the announced expenditure is in metropolitan areas and the Building Better Regions Fund has been scrapped.

There are however some positive regional infrastructure commitments:

$1.5b on a Freight Highway Upgrade Program (this will seal the Tanami Track and upgrade several other significant freight routes in SA and NT).
$1b for the Outback Way.
$80m for Heavy Vehicle Rest Areas.

Federal Labor are also progressing a decarbonisation agenda including:

Emissions reduction of 43% by 2030 and net zero by 2050.
Euro VI emission standards.
Electric vehicle and hydrogen highways focus.
Signing up to a Global Methane Pledge (concerns exist around cattle herd reductions or taxes).

On the agriculture front, there is:

$134m committed to improving biosecurity protections (half of this will be fast-tracked to deal with FMD and LSD).
$47m for a livestock ‘contact tracing’ system.
$21m for drought resilience.
$4m for a new Inspector-General for animal welfare.

ALRTA is currently examining the detail within the Budget papers with a focus on previously committed expenditure.

ALRTA NATIONAL COUNCIL

The Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA) National Council has met in Melbourne. Discussions centred around the proposed National Heavy Vehicle Driver Competency Framework, livestock loading schemes, proposed changes to NVD format and biosecurity preparedness.

ALRTA will be lodging a submission on the National Heavy Vehicle Driver Competency Framework next week.

MAKING EFFLUENT DISPOSAL INFRASTRUCTURE A REALITY

Following on from the our appearance at the Senate Inquiry into the Adequacy of Australia’s biosecurity measures and response preparedness, in particular with respect to foot-and-mouth disease and varroa mite, ALRTA has supplied detailed information to the Committee about the cost, technical designs and priority locations for livestock effluent disposal facilities.

ALRTA Executive Director, Mat Munro, also met with Deputy Committee Chair, Senator Glenn Sterle to discuss the information package as well as potential planning and funding strategies.

NATIONAL LSD ACTION PLAN RELEASED

The Federal Government has released a revised National Lumpy Skin Disease Action Plan.

The plan has 8 objectives and 27 activities aimed at improving Australia’s preparedness for a potential incursion of Lumpy Skin Disease. It was developed with extensive consultation between Australian government, state and territory governments, industry groups and non-governmental stakeholders. ALRTA participated in the working group that revised the plan.

Representatives from the Commonwealth, state and territory governments and industry peak bodies will share responsibility for the implementation of the plan. An industry-government steering committee, led by the Commonwealth, will help guide implementation of the plan and represent industry and governments’ shared interests. The Federal Department of Agriculture will support the steering committee, coordinate implementation of the plan and assist in the reporting of actions to stakeholders.

ALRTA continues to participate on a high-level task force undertaking preparation exercises.

TRANSPORT DIRECTOR RECEIVES NHVR’S FIRST PROHIBITION ORDER

A former transport company director was convicted and fined $14,000 in a South Australian court, following a lengthy investigation by South Australia Police. Thousands of driver records had been found destroyed in a chemical bath of weed killer.

The former director pleaded guilty for failure to exercise due diligence in complying with a safety duty. A Prohibition Order was imposed for a period of 12 months, excluding the director from engaging in any transport activities. This order is the first Prohibition Order that has been made under the HVNL.

The interstate transport company was also convicted of one count of failing to comply with its safety duty. The court indicated a fine of $120,000 but was reduced to $84,000 due to a guilty plea.

Acting Executive Director Statutory Compliance Belinda Hughes said the court result sent a strong message to the community that company executives who fail to meet their safety obligations will be held to account.

“Through records obtained from the investigation into the transport company, it was identified that the drivers regularly failed to comply with their minimum rest requirements, including false entries into work diaries,” Ms Hughes said.

“Executives in particular must exercise their own personal due diligence obligations to check the company has ensured the safety of its transport activities, including the safety of all workers and independent contractors.”

For more information about NHVR prosecutions, click here.

NOMINATE A WORKSHOP LEGEND

The Craig Roseneder Award recognises the outstanding contribution of men and women who have dedicated themselves to ensuring the safety and reliability of vehicles on the road.

Thanks to Castrol, the winner of the 2022 Craig Roseneder Award will be given the incredible opportunity to travel to the USA including:

Return airfares to the United States of America
Full registration to attend a US Technology and Maintenance Council’s Annual Meeting and Transportation Technology Exhibition
5 nights premium conference accommodation
Partners’ program registration (if applicable)
AUD $1,500 spending money
Complimentary registration to the next in-person Australian Trucking Association (ATA) Technology and Maintenance Conference

What are you waiting for? Nomination closes Friday 11 November 2022 at 4pm.

Nominate here

NHVR ISSUES NOTICE TO OFF-ROAD PARTY

Following a roadside intercept where a vehicle carrying metal, aluminum and car parts was found to be substantially over mass and incorrectly restrained, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) followed the Chain of Responsibility (CoR) back to a consignor, issuing an Improvement Notice.

NHVR Investigators found the consignor had no procedures, training or induction materials in place for mass or load restraint requirements.

NHVR Acting Executive Director Statutory Compliance Belinda Hughes said this Improvement Notice reinforces the message that responsibility sits with all parties in the supply chain.

“If you are not a transport operator but you engage the services of a transport operator, you must ensure the safety of that activity, it’s a shared responsibility,” Ms Hughes said.

“This particular investigation demonstrates that the NHVR will investigate all parties in the chain to ensure they meet their obligations.”

The Improvement Notice requires the consignor to develop and implement a documented risk management process, procedures, systems and staff training including control measures to manage risks associated with mass requirements.

Two improvement notices were also issued by NHVR Investigations to the operator. The notices were in relation to mass and load restraint practices.

To learn more about obligations under the CoR visit NHVR’s website.

HAVE YOUR SAY!

NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, the Hon. Sam Farraway is inviting industry to join him to discuss current and future freight projects and initiatives in regional NSW.

To learn more about the focus and topics for each region and to register please click on the relevant data and location below:

SAVE THE DATES FOR 2023

LBRCA – 9-11March 2023 – TAMWORTH NSW
LRTAQ – 16-17 March 2023 – TOWNSVILLE QLD
ATA TRUCKING AUSTRALIA 2023 – 29-31 March 2023 SUNSHINE COAST QLD

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