ALC Welcomes Productivity Commission Calls For Transport Law Reform

The Australian Logistics Council (ALC) today welcomed the publication of the Productivity Commission’s report on National Transport Regulatory Reform.

The Commission made a number of recommendations, including those which encourage:
• the removal of the remaining ‘derogations’ (differences) between state and territory laws and the National Heavy Vehicle Law (the HVNL) and the Rail Safety National Law (RSNL);
• the development of a tiered system of heavy vehicle regulation, containing both relatively prescriptive regulation that smaller operators can follow, alongside outcomes based options that may be better suited to larger operators; and
• the prioritised use of data to improve both transport sector productivity and road infrastructure planning and management.
“ALC endorses the call for harmonisation of state and territory differences to deliver consistent national heavy vehicle and rail safety rules. ALC has always believed in one rule book for one country allowing road and rail operators to develop consistent national safety systems. This will improve efficiency and consistently and so lead to enhanced safety outcomes.” Australian Logistics Council CEO, Kirk Coningham, said.

Mr Coningham also applauded the recognition of the importance of data in improving productivity and safety.

“ALC members have long understood that data is the oil for the 21st Century. We championed the mandatory use in heavy vehicles of equipment that records key data to improve safety, access, infrastructure investment and operational efficiency. The more real-time information that regulators and operators have, the better the decisions made.”

ALC also commended the Productivity Commission’s recognition of the importance of the National Freight Data Hub.

“Development of the National Freight Data Hub is one of the most important developments flowing from the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy. The new hub will be an essential tool for government in refining policy and infrastructure decisions and priorities and for industry in operational and compliance planning. The development of the data hub should be a national priority.”

ENDS