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ATC fast-tracks national truck regulator

ATC agrees to fast-track the national truck regulator's introduction by six months

By Brad Gardner | May 23, 2011

Transport ministers have agreed to bring forward the introduction of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator by six months in line with a push from the trucking industry.

Meeting last week, the Australian Transport Council voted in favour of an intergovernmental agreement to establish the regulator in mid 2012 instead of the planned January 2013 date.

Prior to the meeting, the Australian Livestock Transporters Association (ALTA) wrote to Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese requesting ministers introduce the regulator in July next year.

The plan has now been sent to the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) for approval when it meets later this year. COAG will also vote on accelerating the introduction of national maritime and rail regulators to July 2012.

While not specifying details, the communiqué from the meeting indicates a lot of work still needs to be done before governments agree on one set of regulations for trucking.

“Ministers identified a number of key areas of further work in settling the proposed rail safety and heavy vehicle regulatory requirements which will need to be worked through over the next six months as the national laws are finalised,” the communiqué says.

In his letter to Albanese, ALTA President David Smith told him it was essential the heavy vehicle regulator is given enough resources to be effective and that it must have oversight of enforcement agencies.

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