Submission: Heavy Vehicle Charges 2026-27

The Australian Logistics Council has lodged its submission to the National Transport Commission on proposed heavy vehicle charges for 2026–27. While the recommended 6 per cent increase aligns with previous ministerial decisions, ALC emphasises that this adjustment must be viewed within the broader pressures facing operators and the urgent need to modernise Australia’s charging framework. The submission highlights escalating industry cost pressures, rising insolvencies, and structural limitations in the current PAYGO model, which no longer reflects contemporary infrastructure use or the rapid shift toward zero-emission heavy vehicles. ALC calls for a fair, transparent, and future-ready charging system that supports productivity, decarbonisation and network resilience, underpinned by telematics, improved data governance, and strong national coordination. The paper also reiterates the importance of protecting smaller operators from cumulative cost impacts and ensuring clear visibility of how revenue is allocated. ALC supports a phased transition toward mass–distance–location charging, informed by national pilots and aligned with digital capability across the sector.