ALRTA News – 24 April 2020

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SUPPORTING A NATIONAL RAMP STANDARD

ALRTA has lodged a submission to Standards Australia strongly supporting the establishment of an Australian Standard for Livestock Loading/Unloading Ramps and Forcing Pens.

ALRTA National President, Stephen Marley, said that the proposed Australian Standard will improve worker safety and is the culmination of years of effort by many parties in the livestock supply chain.

ALRTA National President, Stephen Marley. 

“An Australian Standard for ramps and forcing pens will help drive incremental safety improvements across the livestock production, transport, selling and processing sectors,” said President Marley.

“The standard will proactively encourage all parties to improve their safety and animal welfare status – and importantly, the standard will show people how they can do it.  

“This will result in fewer and less severe injuries and will undoubtedly save lives.

“This process was commenced by the Livestock and Rural Transporters Association of Victoria almost a decade ago and was carried forward by ALRTA in the form of a National Guide published in 2015.

“Just like the National Guide, the Australian Standard was developed in consultation with producers, transporters, saleyards, agents, processors, equipment manufacturers, safety authorities and welfare advocates.

“Persons referencing an Australian Standard can be confident that it is supported by industry and that it meets the host of other existing Australian Standards for the elements that comprise a ramp such as walkways, stairs and winches.

“I look forward to the publication of an Australian Standard for Livestock Loading/Unloading Ramps and Forcing Pens in the near future,” said President Marley.

ALRTA DIVERSITY CHAMPION

ALRTA Congratulates Sarah Woodruff on her selection in the Teletrac Navman Driving Change Diversity Program.
 
Sarah brings youth, passion and determination to the livestock transport task. She is well-regarded across our industry and a valued employee at Tate’s Transport in Tasmania – a member of the Livestock Transporters Association of Tasmania.

Check out more about Sarah’s career and how she is supporting greater diversity in this youtube video.

ISSUES WITH COVID-19 RESPONSE?

ALRTA is in constant contact with key decision makers managing the Federal Government response to COVID-19. State Member Associations are reporting that there is strong demand for rural road transport services and that the impact of border restrictions has been minimal.
 
If you are experiencing any problems with the government or supply chain response to COVID-19 please contact your state association or ALRTA and we will do our best to address your issues. Problems might relate to:

  • Border crossings
  • Access to amenities
  • Access to personal protective equipment
  • Confusing or unnecessary paperwork
  • Unmanageable operational requirements
  • Unsubstantiated cost increases
  • Access to government information or support

 You can contact ALRTA on 0421 082 489 or office@alrta.org.au

EXTENDED: LIVESTOCK SUPPLY CHAIN REVIEW

NHVR has advised that the deadline for submissions to the Livestock Supply Chain Review has been extended to 20 May 2020.  ALRTA is consulting with State Member Associations and will lodge a submission in response to the review.
 
Please contact ALRTA or your state association to express your views or visit www.nhvr.gov.au/consultation

STRATEGIC FUEL RESERVE: A MISTAKE

The Australian Government’s decision to establish its fuel reserve in the United States is a serious strategic error, Chair of the Australian Trucking Association, Geoff Crouch, said this week. 

“The move to establish our strategic fuel reserve in the united states is both a national economic issue, and a national security issue,” Mr Crouch said, following this afternoon’s announcement from Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor that the Australian government is setting up a $94 million strategic fuel reserve in the United States. 

Mr Crouch said that at the end of 2019, Australia had just 24 consumption days of petrol and 22 consumption days of diesel in stock. 

“Angus Taylor has said himself that that it could take up to 40 days for fuel to make its way from the US to Australia,” Mr Crouch said. 

“That means Australia would be brought to a standstill for up to 16 days with no access to fuel,” he said. 

Mr Crouch said that the arrangement is simply unrealistic and has called for domestic fuel security. 

“Liquid fuel is critical to trucking and critical for our economy. Without trucks and the fuel that powers them, Australia stops,” Mr Crouch said. 

“As most commodities produced or consumed in Australia are delivered by road, no fuel means supermarkets would go empty, medicines wouldn’t get delivered and rubbish bins wouldn’t get emptied,” he said. 

The Australian Trucking Association and its member associations collectively represent the businesses and people of the Australian trucking industry. Together, the ATA and its members are committed to safety, professionalism and viability.

BE FLEXIBLE WITH JOBKEEPER PAYMENTS

Trucking businesses and other providers of essential services should be automatically eligible for JobKeeper Payments if they need to stand down staff, Australian Trucking Association CEO Ben Maguire said this week. 

Under the current JobKeeper rules, businesses with a turnover of $1 billion or less are eligible if their turnover falls 30 per cent. Businesses with a turnover of more than $1 billion are eligible if their turnover falls 50 per cent. 

“Trucking businesses transport farm products, groceries, fuel, medical supplies, chemicals and all the other products needed to sustain our economy and society,” Mr Maguire said. 

“The continued operation of these businesses needs to be a national priority. 

“Trucking and the provision of trucking services involve high fixed costs and low margins, because of the cost of keeping modern, reliable trucks and fully equipped depots and workshops. 

“In a submission to the Treasurer, we used financial modelling developed by the Queensland Trucking Association to show that a representative trucking business would cease to be viable if its turnover declined 15 per cent. It would not be able to retain enough staff to do enough work to meet the financing cost of its fleet. 

“The ATA believes that government policy should not force businesses to close when they are trying to hang on, keep trading and keep as many of their people employed as possible,” he said. 

In the submission, the ATA calls on the Government to: 

  • allow the tax commissioner to establish an alternative test for essential service providers such as trucking businesses, so that any essential service provider that stands down staff is automatically eligible for JobKeeper Payments 
  • alternatively, if it is considered that a turnover reduction test for essential service providers, including trucking, is needed, the test should be aligned with the 15 per cent decline in turnover test for ACNC registered charities. 
  • ensure that the first and second fortnightly payments under JobKeeper are made as early as possible. 

The ATA has previously urged the Government to remove the $1 billion breakpoint in the JobKeeper scheme. 

ATA submission

NHVR VEHICLE STANDARDS GUIDE UPDATED

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s (NHVR) has revised the Vehicle Standards Guide 21 (VSG – 21).

This guide provides information for inspectors who operate roller brake test (RBT) machines, about the National roller brake testing procedure (RBT procedure).

This VSG has been updated to provide guidance on calibration schedules during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The NHVR’s National Roller Brake Test Procedure required that machines used to conduct tests are calibrated in accordance with the manufacturers’ standards every 12 or 24 months.

To read the updated document click here

AUSTRALIANS ASKED TO REMEMBER ANZACS AT HOME

Anzac Day 2020 will be unlike any other. For the first time in almost a century the streets will be empty across Australia; there will be no suburban dawn services, mid-morning marches or afternoon two-up matches.

This Anzac Day 25 April 2020 Australians are being asked to unite and acknowledge the sacrifices of past and current servicemen and women for a dawn service with a difference.  As a mark of respect to our ex-service women and men who served, families across the nation are being encouraged to stand at their gates, on their driveways, balconies or verandahs at 6:00am and hold a lighted candle or torch and observe a minutes silence as the sun rises. 

The Australian War Memorial Anzac Day service is scheduled to proceed and will be broadcast on the ABC from 5:30am AEST.  At 11:30am AEST, a two-minute reflection video will be live-streamed across all ABC local radio Facebook pages and on the ABC News Facebook page.

ALRTA STAFF AVAILABILITY AMIDST COVID19

From 24 March 2020 the ALRTA staff – Mathew, Sue, Colleen and Jack are working from home amidst COVID-19.

Please email office@alrta.org.au or call Colleen on the ALRTA mobile 0490 515 681 or Mathew (ED) on 0421 082 489.

UPDATE ON EVENTS FOR 2020

LRTAQ (QLD) on 19-21 March 2020 at Roma QLD. – POSTPONED
LTAT (TAS) on 2 May 2020 in Hobart TAS. – POSTPONED
LRTASA (SA)on 12-13 June 2020 at Adelaide Entertainment Centre SA. – CANCELLED
LRTAWA/ALRTA (WA & National) on 24-25 July 2020. Perth WA.- POSTPONED until further notice
LRTAV (VIC) on 14-15 August 2020 at All Seasons Resort Bendigo VIC – POSTPONED