Safety message focuses on regulatory initiatives in coming months
New South Wales roads, maritime and freight minister Melinda Pavey has highlighted her state’s commitment to the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s compliance task through the year.
In an Australian Logistics Council (ALC) Forum keynote speech that kicks off on the twin roles of government on freight being “infrastructure delivery” and “appropriate regulation”, Pavey emphasises the importance of the period just ahead for freight transport.
“For the past five years, New South Wales has worked together with Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT, to establish the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator – the NHVR – as the new national body to enforce the Heavy Vehicle National Law,” Pavey says.
“The next 12 months will be important, as these relatively new national arrangements are bedded down.
“In July, the Regulator will have access to the new National Heavy Vehicle Registration System and the National Compliance Information System will be launched, integrating camera and compliance data from around the country.
“It’s also the month new Chain of Responsibility provisions in the National Law come into effect.
“To me, this is key: recognising that everyone in the chain, across all states, has an obligation to safety.”
Following a challenging start to the year in transport safety sphere, Pavey underlines that cooperation between the industry and the national regulator was paramount, while noting industry efforts to tackle the issue, and confirms the state’s Towards Zero approach.
“Improving the safety of heavy vehicles – over-represented in crashes – is critical to reaching zero,” she says.
“The new regulations, and the national coordination behind them, are steps on that path.
“I acknowledge the industry’s contribution to this, through the National Logistics Safety Code.
“Through more advanced vehicles with features like stability control and under-run protection.
“Though greater use of telematics to track vehicle locations, performance, speed and rest breaks. Improving safety as well as productivity.
“We look forward to working with the industry to make the NHVR effective in improving safety and efficiency.”