Australia is a step closer to a national regulator for the heavy vehicle industry, with Queensland introducing the Heavy Vehicle National Law Bill 2012 into its Parliament today.
Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese and Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said the passage of the Bill will establish the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator in Brisbane and allow for the appointment of the five-member Board and the CEO.
“This important reform replaces the confusing array of eight separate regulators and nine pieces of state, territory and Commonwealth legislation with a national regulator and a single national law,” Mr Albanese said.
“Complying with multiple jurisdictions when travelling from one state to the next will become a thing of the past under the new regulator.”
Queensland will be the first state to pass legislation to implement the new independent regulator responsible for regulating all vehicles in Australia over 4.5 tonnes.
Other states and territories are expected to deliver the legislation through their own Parliaments over the coming months, so that the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator will be operational from January 2013.
Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said the NHVR will improve productivity for the heavy vehicle industry.
“The regulations will make it easier for business to operate as there will be a one-stop shop for registration renewals, log book queries, access permits and a host of other services,” Mr Emerson said.
“As part of the NHVR a national safety monitoring and reporting system for heavy vehicles will also be introduced to improve safety across the board for truckies.”
The National Law would apply to all heavy vehicles over 4.5 tonnes but would not cover the transportation of dangerous goods, heavy vehicle driver licensing and bus industry accreditation, which were covered under other acts.
The NHVR will support the growth of the transport sector, with flow-on benefits to the nation of up to $30 billion over the next 20 years. Locally, this means more jobs for Queensland and benefits to the local economy of at least $1.5 billion.
For more information please visit www.nhvr.gov.au