Greetings from the vibrant chaos of downtown Delhi, where resilience thrives amid the hustle. Back home, South Australia’s Road Safety Action Plan 2023–2025 has sparked intense debate. While broadly welcomed, the decision to stop recognising overseas heavy vehicle licenses – except for New Zealand – has been criticised for perceived inequities. Imagine if every overseas driver were a Jake ‘The Muss’ Heke clone? It’s not the skill or dedication of the drivers that’s in question, but the fairness of the policy.
The plan, introduced following the tragic Yalata triple fatality in April 2024, requires overseas drivers (except New Zealanders) to undergo additional training and assessments to obtain an MC license. The goal is to enhance safety and training standards, but the implementation raises critical concerns, such as the idea of selective recognition, where Australia’s preferential treatment of licenses from nations like the UK, despite the lack of reciprocal arrangements, creates an imbalance. For example, despite being an economic powerhouse ranked fifth in GDP globally, India is sidelined despite its robust workforce contributions. It also brings to light patchwork implementation, as this plan applies to South Australian residents but not interstate drivers operating in South Australia. This loophole undermines the uniformity and effectiveness of safety initiatives.
It’s time to get real about this issue – the federal government must step in to create a truly national framework for heavy vehicle regulation. By removing state-level inconsistencies, we can establish a system rooted in fairness, equity and uniformity. It’s about the safety, livelihoods and economic stability of a nation that relies on its transport sector every single day.
Beyond the policy lies the human narrative. The Yalata crash claimed three lives, including Yadwinder Singh Bhatti, whose widow’s dignified grief underscores the broader consequences of these systemic failings. The investigation into the accident is still ongoing and no single cause has yet been identified. Such stories highlight the urgency of creating policies that both enhance safety and support the industry’s diverse workforce.
A Vital Resource
India’s burgeoning population, now the largest globally, continues to fuel migration. Nearly a million Indian-born people live in Australia, many working in the transport sector, where their contributions are indispensable. With median annual earnings in India hovering around $6,000 AUD, migration offers a pathway for many to improve their livelihoods, while these drivers can help fill critical workforce gaps, particularly in sectors grappling with labour shortages.
Overseas drivers and operators from countries such as India typically arrive via student Visas (Subclass 500) and are often exploited as they face conflicting demands of full-time work and study, or skill stream Visas that bring experienced professionals into the fold, many establishing logistics companies that employ overseas drivers.
Some might wonder how inexperienced drivers are landing jobs driving MC-class heavy vehicles when many can remember the frustration of being turned down because they didn’t have enough relevant experience. ‘The insurance company says no’ was a familiar refrain, but not so in recent times.
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Two of the biggest players in the ancillary side of the industry are NTI Insurance and Seeing Machines. NTI’s partnership with Seeing Machines boasts benefits such as removing all driver experience requirements for vehicles equipped with Seeing Machines, as long as the NTI provides insurance, reducing excess for accidents involving vehicles fitted with the technology and, in the event of a total loss, a settlement at market value plus 20 per cent for units with the machines installed. Also, in accidents, destroyed Seeing Machines are replaced.
The NTI also promises premium adjustments that reflect potential reductions in fatigue claims and waived Guardian 24/7 service fees for the first month of any new installations. The Guardian service fee is waived for individual data feeds from Seeing Machines to NTI. If we examine the Seeing Machines Data and Privacy Policy, we will find that this data cannot be shared unless legislation requires it so, yet, nonetheless, it gets shared with NTI.
Australia’s transport legislation, particularly the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL), poses significant barriers, such as legal complexity (even judges require guides to interpret HVNL provisions, leaving drivers – especially migrants – with little chance of compliance without support) and a punitive environment. Drivers face severe penalties for minor infractions, such as logbook errors, often resulting from confusion rather than negligence.
When it comes to recommending change, legal language should be simplified to ensure accessibility for all, with translated and culturally adapted guides included, while mandatory hands-on training programs for overseas drivers should occur to bridge knowledge gaps and reinforce safety practices. On the support side, helplines, mentoring and digital tools should all be established to aid compliance in real-time, while uniform licensing standards should be provided to eliminate jurisdictional inconsistencies and improved fairness.
Since 2021, Highway Advocates (Australia) and its consultancy arm, HACS, have led the charge for fairness, inclusivity and compliance in the transport industry. Recent successes include overturning three license-crushing convictions in District Court appeals, securing non-convictions or minimal fines for drivers facing critical breach charges and ensuring drivers remain on the road and contributing to the economy.
The Road Ahead
Australia’s transport industry is at a crossroads. As penalties rise and workforce challenges deepen, the focus must shift to proactive measures that prioritise clarity, fairness and inclusivity. Overseas drivers and other migrant workers represent not just a solution to labour shortages, but a vital component of Australia’s economic and cultural fabric.
With robust advocacy, practical reforms and unwavering commitment, the transport sector can rise to meet these challenges – ensuring it remains the backbone of a thriving and equitable Australia.
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