OPINION: The Federal Government’s budget will be a sight for sore eyes in one vital area for road transport
By the time you read this, preparations will be well underway for the Albanese Government’s first budget on October 25. Those of you familiar with the events of Budget Night will know that the speech that becomes public the instant the Treasurer rises to his feet to deliver it often provides a “make you or break you” moment.
Unfortunately, the last time we made our way to Parliament House for this red-letter event, all our industry got was a collective black eye.
Even some members of the then-government were blindsided by suspension of the Fuel Tax Credit for heavy vehicles.
To paraphrase an old song, we can see clearly now and it was anything but a bright shiny day for those operators forced out of the industry by yet another unfair financial impost.
Bear in mind that this was an idea cooked up by Treasury to offset the cost of halving fuel excise for car-driving families of voting age.
Ironically, the extra burden it placed on truckies ended up costing mum and dad more at the supermarket … and there was no dividend at the ballot box.
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Word on the street this time around is that the new Government’s budget will be sharply focussed on delivering promises it made from Opposition.
One we understand will be met in full is the pledge for an additional $80 million for heavy vehicle rest areas.
NatRoad praised this mid-election campaign announcement.
Promises from both sides of politics were admittedly thin on the ground at the time, but this one seemed like common sense, and it was surprising that it went unmatched.
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NatRoad thinks that building a national network of rest areas, strategically located and informed by evidence about fatigue, will go a long way to making our industry much safer and much more efficient.
It’s important that rest areas are more than rudimentary driveways with a cold running water tap and a lean-to added as after-thoughts.
Safe and secure toilets and change areas for men and women should be a minimum requirement.
Hot and cold water, power that isn’t dependent on the grid, well designed entries and exits and ample truck parking are not luxuries, they are mandatories.
“I want the truckies to tell us where they want the trucks bays and what they expect in the bays,” said WA Labor Senator Glenn Sterle, who at the time was the Shadow Assistant Minister for Road Safety.
Form an orderly queue, here.
We all know that $80m won’t go a long way but it’s good progress.
What’s more, it is expected to be delivered in one budget year.
It should be enough to build 16 well-equipped rest areas. Locate them strategically and you will make a difference.
The Federal Government already commits up to $65m a year through its Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program, some of which finds its way into rest areas. There are also joint funding programs with states and territories.
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator receives $5.5 million per year from the Australian Government to deliver the Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative (HVSI), which funds industry-led safety projects.
NatRoad believes the Federal Government can go further and can make road funding grants to the states and territories at least in part conditional on matching cash for rest stops that are of a nationally uniform standard.
It might take a lot of heavy lifting but only then will we see safety and productivity baked into infrastructure.
*WARREN CLARK, NatRoad’s chief executive officer, has more than 20 years’ experience leading and developing business for emerging companies. Warren has held the position of CEO at various companies and is a certified chartered accountant.