In the media

Road Safety Awareness and Enablers Fund now open
Applications for the Road Safety Awareness and Enablers Fund are now open and the Australian Government is urging organisations with an interest in road safety education and awareness to apply (23 October 2019). More...

Truck causes delays on SA freeway, as report finds many are failing safety checks
According to the latest report, three in five trucks have failed to pass mandatory safety checks in South Australia in the past year. The alarming figures were revealed by the State Government as it announced a wider inspection regime for all trucks on the road would not be ready until the first half of 2020 (31 October 2019). More...

Makeshift platform leads to serious injury
The ATSB is highlighting the importance of following procedures and applying best practice after two crewmen working aloft on a bulk carrier were seriously injured. The ATSB investigation found that the equipment and machinery were not suitable for the task, making hazard identification difficult, and exposed the workers to increased risk (30 October 2019). More...

Access boost on the Newell Highway
The NHVR has welcomed a NSW Government decision to improve access for high productivity vehicles along the Newell Highway at Coonabarabran. NHVR Freight and Supply Chain Executive Director Peter Caprioli said the additional access for Modular B-Triples, B-Triples, AB-Triples & Type 1 Road Trains up to 36.5 metres was another step forward for industry productivity (30 October 2019). More...

IPA certifications back on track as brake deadline looms
A refreshing dose of Government/industry cooperation has seen the roll over to ADR 38/05 back on track in the face of encroaching deadlines, following concerns that trailer manufacturers and certification agents were also having difficulties with the roll over process for trailer variants (30 October 2019). More...

Victoria to transition services to NHVR
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) will provide heavy vehicle on-road compliance and enforcement services in Victoria from 8 December 2019, with 54 staff currently employed by VicRoads in on and off road heavy vehicle compliance roles joining the NHVR (29 October 2019). More...

Side underrun protection guidelines updated
The Australian Trucking Association has released its updated Side Underrun Protection Technical Advisory Procedure, following a review by an industry working group (28 October 2019). More...

Unlicensed heavy vehicle repairs are illegal says AHVRA
Over recent months many instances have been reported of the authorisation of heavy vehicle smash repairs into car repair shops says the Australian Heavy Vehicle Repairers Association. It must be noted this contravenes the NHVL law (National; Heavy Vehicle Law) as applies to NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania, the Motor Dealers and Repairers Act 2013 and the Code of Practice (25 October 2019). More...

Trucking industry welcomes Parliamentary Friends
The Australian Trucking Association and Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia have welcomed the establishment of a new Parliamentary Friends forum that will allow federal MPs and Senators to work more closely with the road transport and heavy vehicle industries. (23 October 2019). More...

Truck engine remapping prompts latest NHVR investigation
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) and South Australia Police have commenced a joint investigation into allegations about the remapping of truck engines throughout Australia (23 October 2019). More...

Victorian Government to crackdown on heavy vehicle operators
A crack down in Victoria has been launched on heavy vehicle operators who fail to comply with road safety regulations and National Heavy Vehicle Laws (21 October 2019). More...

Published – articles, papers, reports

NTC Annual Report
Published 23 October 2019
NTC Annual Report 2018-19

In practice and courts

AIS: Transport and Logistics Industry Reference Committee Projects (expected 31 December 2019)
TLI Chain of Responsibility
TLI Heavy Vehicle Driver Safety
TLI Freight Forwarding

NTC Discussion Paper: Barriers to the safe use of motorised mobility devices(MMDs)
The NTC will accept submissions until 11 December 2019. Submissions can be made online. More...

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

Bills

Gazette Notices

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. This notice commences on 1 November 2019

Regulation

Heavy Vehicle National Law - Heavy Vehicle Stated Maps – Suspension and Amendment Notice 2019 (No.15)
22/10/2019 - The purpose of this Notice is to amend stated maps for vehicles at the request of road managers. This Notice applies in all participating jurisdictions.
Heavy Vehicle National Law - Heavy Vehicle Stated Maps – Suspension and Amendment Notice 2019 (No.15)
NSW

Proclamations commencing Acts
Road Transport and Other Legislation Amendment (Digital Driver Licences and Photo Cards) Act 2018 No 21 (2019-513) — published LW 25 October 2019

Regulations and other miscellaneous instruments
Road Transport (Driver Licensing) Amendment (Digital Driver Licences) Regulation 2019 (2019-517) — published LW 25 October 2019

Queensland

Subordinate legislation as made – 11 October 2019
No 201 Transport Operations (Road Use Management—Vehicle Registration) and Other Legislation Amendment Regulation 2019

Victoria

Passed Parliament (will now go to the Governor for royal assent) 31 October 2019
Dangerous Goods Amendment (Penalty Reform) Bill 2019
'10A New section 60D inserted After section 60C of the Dangerous Goods Act 1985 insert— "60D Report on storage, transfer and disposal of dangerous goods

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