Western Roads Federation – HVNL Review

Western Australia has maintained a watching brief on the Heavy Vehicle National Law Review process.

The position remains that the HVNL must provide real benefits to Western Australia before any consideration would be given to adopting it in the State.

At this stage NO such benefits have been identified. However, it makes sense to cooperate on things that make it easier for our members and industry.

It must be remembered that the Heavy Vehicle National Law review was started to address key problems that Western Australia has already solved, such as: • Pre-Approved Access to Routes that have been previously approved. o In Western Australia we have the Restricted Access Vehicle Network (RAV) that already does that. • Fairer Fatigue Enforcement. The compliance and size of the penalties for fatigue breaches in the East are a major complaint for Truck Drivers. o In Western Australia, our system puts the onus on the “responsible person” in a company AND the commercial driver. It is worth noting that since July 2019, amendments to the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations the definition of ‘commercial vehicle’ expanded to include drivers of all commercial and hire vehicles, including taxis, within the scope of the fatigue management and medical fitness to drive provisions of ‘Part 3, Division 10 — Driving Commercial Vehicles’ of the OSH Regulations.

The Transport and Infrastructure Ministers have signed off on the progressing the following recommendations presented to them.

The Australian Taxation Office has released details on the increase of the fuel tax credit (FTC) in line with fuel excise duty indexation. FTC rates will increase from August 1 by a consumer price index (CPI) indexation factor for rates of 1.04. From March 30 to September 28, 2022, the ATO says excise and excise equivalent customs duty rates for petrol, diesel and all other fuel and petrolbased products (except aviation fuels) will be lowered.

The biodiesel rate will also increase from August 1 after previously rising on July 1 this year. If operators are struggling to pay their business activity statement (BAS) payments on time, the ATO says they can reach out to request more time to pay the difference.

Western Roads Federation like other State Associations is continuing to work on ensuring the reinstatement of the FTC once the fuel excise is returned to $0.442 cpl on September 28 2022.

There is growing concern over on-road safety standards of the transport industry. Concerns are being expressed privately by the

Government, Police and a couple in the media with whom I have a good relationship.

I have organised for two separate closed-door meetings of industry representatives, the first scheduled for the 22 August, the second at the end of September. Given it is an industry safety concern; I have extended invitations to the LRTAWA and the TWU WA to send representatives. We need a united industry effort.

The intent of the meetings is to identify common issues, causes and actions that can be taken.

For years, Australia has basically imported other countries skilled labour, whether doctors, nurses, engineers and in our case even drivers and mechanics, the list goes on.

But now we are starting to be told by some other countries, to train our own people and stop poaching theirs.

That poses a problem for Australia. 1. Firstly, we are running out of people to train given the record low unemployment 2. Secondly, many employers quite rightly question the employability of people "trained" in the Australian training and education system 3. Thirdly, and related to the second point there has been growing disconnect between employers and the educational/ training system that has occurred over the last couple of decades.

Concerns by other countries will not stop migration to Australia, but we do need to be aware that the skills shortage is fairly widespread across the globe.

It might be time to sit down and rethink how we train and educate people, with a real emphasis on how industry can be more actively involved in the training and education systems.

It can work, as look at the program where our industry is involved in the training of new Drivers, 87% are in jobs. Why because experienced industry people are with them through the six-week course. And we help place them into industry jobs they are suited too.

Western Roads Federation has been formed to give a strong unified voice for companies who use WA roads for commercial benefit. Western Roads Federation is a membership driven organisation. If you believe in the industry and what you do, then make sure your company is a member, and get involved. For a membership application form Email cam.dumesny@westernroads.com.au ◆ Phone 08 9365 7799 or 0481 064 371 180 Hay St, East Perth WA 6004