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Coalition Moves Against RTA Dairy Proposals
AUSTRALIA - The New South Wales Farmers’ Association has today congratulated the NSW Liberal/National Coalition for supporting farmers and agreeing to move a motion to disallow regulations attached to the Heavy Vehicle Driver Fatigue reforms due to come into force on Monday.
New South Wales Farmers’ Association President Jock Laurie says the discussions held over
several months with the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) regarding these
draconian regulations have been fruitless and hopefully a disallowance motion will
prove successful for primary producers and all others in the transport industry
across NSW.
“This week the Association discussed the situation with Shadow Minister for Road
Safety, Andrew Fraser, and I am extremely pleased he agreed to tackle this issue
in parliament on behalf of farmers,” Mr Laurie said.
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* "These regulations just add to the pile of red-tape farmers already have to deal with" |
New South Wales Farmers’ Association President Jock Laurie
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According to the New South Wales Farmers' Association, under the new laws, farmers will be required by the RTA to fill in a log book to record all movements of trucks over 12 tonne Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM).
“There has been an exemption in place that allowed farmers in NSW to travel
within 100 kilometres from their property without having to fill out paperwork,” Mr
Laurie said.
“These new laws will mean farmers will have to log details into their diary just to
drive into town to pick up fencing wire, fertiliser or drop stock at their local
saleyards.
“The Association certainly supports moves to reduce driver fatigue related
accidents, but these regulations just add to the pile of red-tape farmers already
have to deal with.
“The NSW State Government made a commitment to address the red-tape burden
it its State plan and now it is going back on its word,” Mr Laurie said.
“This is a clear example of the Government failing to meet its commitment,” Mr
Laurie said.
Victoria and South Australia are retaining the 100km work provision and
Queensland will have a 200km work provision that does not require the completion
of a work diary.
“We need national consistency,” Mr Laurie said.
“Meetings with the NSW RTA have been unhelpful and they have been
unresponsive to the needs of rural and regional NSW. Frankly this is not good
enough and disgraceful,” Mr Laurie said.
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