25 September 2008

2 minute read

Oceania

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.

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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