Australia’s transport ministers have backed the introduction of a state-based national heavy vehicle regulator, naming three jurisdictions as possible hosts. Meeting
Australia’s transport ministers have backed the introduction of a state-based national heavy vehicle regulator, naming three jurisdictions as possible hosts.
Meeting on November 6, the Australian Transport Council (ATC) agreed to a system where the regulator will be hosted by one state.
That state will make a ruling and then other jurisdictions will pass laws to ensure national uniformity.
The ATC says New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria have all expressed interest in taking the lead role under a scheme that Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Anthony Albanese says will benefit the industry.
“The regulator will be responsible for aligning the rules and regulations applying to vehicles over 4.5 tonnes, helping to improve the safety and productivity of the … industry,” he says.
A decision will now be made by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) after the ATC agreed to recommend to the nation’s leaders they support a state-based scheme.
Ministers also used the meeting to name South Australia the host jurisdiction for a national rail safety regulator. The proposal will also go before COAG.
“Offices of the national regulator will be established in each state and territory to manage the day-to-day regulation of local urban systems and interstate freight operations,” Albanese says.
During the meeting, the ATC also named the Canberra-based Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) will be the national maritime regulator.