In the media

Dangers on routes in threatened areas likely to change quickly
With deadly bushfires in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales likely to continue causing havoc for many days yet, related trucking issues are being given prominence (14 November 2019). More...

Port of Melbourne 30-year draft strategy released
The Victorian Transport Association has welcomed the Port of Melbourne's release of its draft 30-year Port Development Strategy 2050 for consultation. The strategy is consistent with the state government's goal of getting more freight on to rail, but also for increased use of Higher Productivity Freight Vehicles and increased use of truck operations during off-peak periods (13 November 2019). More...

Late transport reforms have failed to deliver expected gains: Productivity Commission
Reform in the transport sector has been disappointingly slow and has not delivered the expected productivity gains, according to a draft report released by the Productivity Commission (12 November 2019). More...

Productivity Commission draft report backs improved safety outcomes
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has welcomed the release of the Productivity Commission's Draft Report into National Transport Regulatory Reform. NHVR Chair Duncan Gay said that the draft report highlighted the benefits that had already been achieved, while charting a path for improvement (12 November 2019). More...

Productivity Commission draft reform report action calls
Two of the nation's peak transport and logistics bodies have endorsed the Productivity Commission's draft National Transport Regulatory Reform report.ATA and ALC now call for government responses to new reform agenda points (12 November 2019). More...

Heavy vehicle law 'prioritises box ticking over safety'
The Productivity Commission has slammed the Heavy Vehicle National Law saying it encourages box ticking rather than risk management and calling for an overhaul of the legislation. The national heavy vehicle regulator has failed to reach operational capability within COAG's timeframe (11 November 2019). More...

Accreditation reform to ease audit 'tidal wave': ATA
Association outlines new voluntary system in HVNL review submission. Under its approach, businesses certified under the ATA's TruckSafe accreditation scheme or another accreditation scheme approved by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) would be deemed to comply with their safety duties (08 November 2019). More...

Restrictions ease on the movement of oversize agricultural vehicles in WA
The Government of Western Australia has revised rules around the movement of oversize agricultural vehicles, ensuring that the industry can operate efficiently during its busy seeding and harvest periods (07 November 2019). More...

SCT Logistics in FWC driver dismissal win
The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has found in favour of intermodal operator SCT Logistics after it dismissed a driver for failing to follow instructions relating to new fleet inductions and pre-trip inspections (07 November 2019). More...

NHVR expands Personal Use Exemption to AFM and BFM
The Federal Government has announced the extension of the Personal Use Exemption for drivers operating under Basic Fatigue Management (BFM) and Advanced Fatigue Management (AFM)."This change will mean drivers operating under BFM and AFM will have an additional hour to use their fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle for personal use (04 November 2019). More...

Government calls for input on $5.2m National Freight Data Hub
The release of the first discussion paper on the design of the National Freight Data Hub according to the Federal Government marks a major step towards a more competitive, efficient and productive freight future for Australia (03 November 2019). More...

Published – articles, papers, reports

National transport regulatory reform: Draft report
Productivity Commission: 12 November 2019
Reform in the transport sector has been disappointingly slow and has not delivered the expected productivity gains, according to this Productivity Commission draft report. The report suggests that moving to national regulation should be seen as one practical step towards improving safety and productivity. More...

Austroads annual report 2018-19
AP-C20-19 8 November2019
The annual report provides a detailed review of each Austroads Program as well as the projects completed and progressed during the year. More...

Webinar: Infrastructure changes to support automated vehicles on rural and metropolitan highways and freeways
WEB-R606-19 7 November 2019
This webinar, presented on 7 November 2019, provides an overview of the gaps in current physical and digital road infrastructure to support connected and automated vehicles on Australian and New Zealand highways and freeways. More...

NHVR On the Road newsletter 2019
The newsletter provides important information on the heavy vehicle industry, including the latest NHVR news and events, relevant law and policy changes, and resources to help industry members comply with the HVNL
On The Road - Issue 72, 12 November 2019. More...

In practice and courts

NHVR: HVSI program funding 2020-21
Projects must be implementable, begin in the 2020-21 financial year and be completed by June 30, 2023 – and applications are open until February 21, 2020. The funding is focused towards groups and projects delivering safety benefits for the heavy vehicle industry and all road users (12 November 2019). More...

National Transport Regulatory Reform
12 November 2019 - You are invited to examine the draft report and make a submission or brief comment. More...

AIS: Transport and logistics industry reference committee projects (expected 31 December 2019)
TLI Chain of Responsibility
TLI Heavy Vehicle Driver Safety
TLI Freight Forwarding

Senate inquiries
Importance of a viable, safe, sustainable and efficient road transport industry
Status: While submissions were originally due on 17 October 2019, the committee has extended the submission due date to 8 November 2019.

Current consultations
Performance of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority
Status: Date Referred: 23 July 2019. Next Hearing: 11 November 2019: Canberra, ACT
The policy, regulatory, taxation, administrative and funding priorities for Australian shipping
Status: Date Referred: 23 July 2019.On 5 October 2019, the Senate granted an extension of time to report until the Wednesday of the first sitting week in June 2020

IMDG code change - Refresher course must be completed by 31st December 2019
The current edition IMDG Code 2016 (Amendments 38-16) is only valid until 31st December 2019 and then will be superseded by the new edition IMDG Code 2018 (Amendments 39-16) which comes into effect on 1st January 2020 for two years. It is an AMSA requirement that Dangerous Goods Certificates are in line with the current regulations. More...

Legislation

Gazette Notices

Heavy Vehicle National Law - Victoria Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Log Carrying Truck and Dog Trailer Dimension Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1)
08/11/2019 - The purpose of this Notice is to exempt a stated category of class 3 heavy vehicles used to carry logs in Victoria from the length limit stated in section (3)(1)(a) of Schedule 6 to the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (the National Regulation). Commences 10 November 2019

Heavy Vehicle National Law Victoria Class 3 Twinsteer Prime Mover and Semitrailer Combination Mass Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1)
08/11/2019 - The purpose of this Notice is to exempt a certain category of class 3 heavy vehicles in Victoria from stated mass requirements prescribed in the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (the National Regulation).
Note – This Notice replaces the Victoria Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Twinsteer Prime Mover and Semitrailer Combination Mass Exemption Notice 2016 (No. 1). Commence 12 November 2019

Heavy Vehicle National Law - Victoria Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Livestock Carrier Mass Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1)
08/11/2019 - The purpose of this Notice is to exempt a stated category of class 3 heavy vehicles from the mass requirements prescribed in Schedules 1 to 5 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (the National Regulation). Commences 10 November 2019

Heavy Vehicle National Law - Heavy Vehicle Stated Maps – Amendment Notice 2019 (No.16)
06/11/2019 - The purpose of this Notice is to amend stated maps for vehicles at the request of road managers.

Heavy Vehicle National Law - National Heavy Vehicle Work and Rest Hours Exemption (Personal Use – BFM and AFM) Notice 2019 (No.1)
01/11/2019 – To exempt specified categories of driver from maximum work time requirements under Basic Fatigue Management (BFM) or Advanced Fatigue Management (AFM) Hours so that they may conduct permitted personal activities in excess of those maximum time limits. Commences 01 November 2019

Victoria

Acts
Date of assent:6 November 2019
Dangerous Goods Amendment (Penalty Reform) Act 2019
Act Number: 38/2019

This publication does not deal with every important topic or change in law and is not intended to be relied upon as a substitute for legal or other advice that may be relevant to the reader's specific circumstances. If you have found this publication of interest and would like to know more or wish to obtain legal advice relevant to your circumstances please contact one of the named individuals listed.