Queensland will become the host jurisdiction for the national heavy vehicle regulator.

Once set up, this new regulator will be responsible for putting in place nationwide rules and regulations for all vehicles over 4.5 tonnes, including inspection standards, safe driving hours, mass limits and registration.

The move from state-based to national regulations will improve the safety and productivity of the trucking industry.

For example, at the moment an interstate truck driver must comply with all the regulations that apply in each of the jurisdictions they drive through. Even small differences can create extra costs, red tape and confusion for the trucking industry, particularly for the many ‘mum and dad’ operators.

This announcement follows the December decision of COAG to make the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) – based in Canberra – the national regulator of all commercial vessels operating in Australian waters and appoint South Australia the host jurisdiction for the national rail safety regulator.

This is an important step in a vital micro economic reform to the way Australia regulates our vital transport sector.

The governments of Australia are working together to put in place a seamless national economy – an outcome that will lift national productivity and allow transport operators to get products onto supermarkets shelves and our exports to market at the lowest cost.

It is proposed that all reforms will be fully implemented by 2013.