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Work and rest areas under fatigue management regulations may be overhauled after the NSW Government met with stakeholders to address concerns over the controversial system.

Minister for Roads Michael Daley held a roundtable discussion with the NSW Road Freight Advisory Council and the NSW Farmers Association as part of a discussion to limit the burden of fatigue management on industry while ensuring safety is not jeopardised.

Daley says significant progress was made and the Government will work to resolve the industry’s issues, which related to complying with work and rest hours during harvest and when transporting livestock.

“I understand the concerns of farmers and trucking operators I can assure everyone I am looking at these reforms with the needs of business and regional NSW in mind,” Daley says.

“A number of short and long term industry issues were identified and we will try progress these issues as quickly as possible.”

The roundtable discussion included the TWU, transport icon Ron Finemore, the Livestock and Bulk Carriers Association and Jim Savage from Stockmaster.

There were also representatives from the NSW Farmers Association, the NRMA and the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA).

Daley says he will continue to hold discussions in the coming weeks with the same representatives as well as other organisations and trucking operators.

“After the national reforms were introduced, I granted a number of 12-month exemptions for NSW operators, so that I had time to properly consult with the farming communities and trucking industries,” he says.

The NSW Opposition threatened to pass a motion of disallowance against fatigue management regulations unless the Government pledged to amend a number of provisions under the regime.

Opposition spokesman on roads Duncan Gay wants a commitment to build more rest areas as well as amendments to night time driving hours.

He says many aspects of fatigue management are unworkable and must be changed to ensure the trucking industry is not unduly affected.

COMMENTS (4)
Comment by 21884
posted 1 year ago
This is exactly the trouble - we are being treated as if all of us do the wrong thing. Half a percent might be doing the wrong thing and guess what, THAT WILL NEVER CHANGE.

Why do government people and those experts in the field who have NEVER placed a foot in a truck let along spent 3-4 days in the same truck then 6-12 months determining how to best operate your life think that a wave of a magic wand will solve the .5 percent without upsetting 95 percent?

To say to the truckie and the fleet owner that these new fatigue laws WILL NOT alter the way that you do things is so naive. We are not all idiots, we are all "edumucated" (Haha).

Everyone is upset because of change that affects their way of life not just how you complete a sheet of paper especially when all your time is now being spent on determining whether its worth going on the road vs the fines that may/can be imposed.

No LAW should be open to interpretation!! Saying that authorities will use discretion is ludicrous. Like I said, go on the road for a few months and you will soon learn a few truths about your laws and their interpretation - "my way or no way".

And believe me, the industry could name and shame certain people in certain rural/regional areas that this refers to.
Comment by Chris
posted 1 year ago
A pity there weren't some mainstream transport representatives other than Ron Finemore.
Comment by Kevin
posted 1 year ago
Minister for Roads in NSW Michael Daley is a breath of fresh air. He is showing some understanding of the problems facing the road transport industry brought about by these transport reforms.

Unfortunately he will be talking to the wrong people.
I am concerned that the transport operators from the big end of town, the unions, the farming and motoring associations will dictate outcomes that will most likely be less than what we need to maintain a viable operation at the owner driver and small fleet level.

This highlights the need for a grassroots association to be involved in the process, but it always going to be the ‘shiny bums’ who get in the door and we will get screwed again.

The solution to the new reforms is to start with a clean slate and work through each issue, using true figures and realistic formulas for arriving at outcomes we can all live with.

The ‘school boy’ mentality of ‘we know best’ from the bureaucracy and its treatment of veteran road transport operators is nothing short of degrading and insulting. these people have no real life experience in road transport yet they sit across the table and tell us we are naughty boys and they are going to straighten us out.

Michael Daley would do well to go out to Dubbo and talk to people like Leo Fardell, Donny Smith, Dallas Brookfield and a host of operators who will be only too pleased to meet and communicate their view of where the Government is going wrong and why these new reforms should be abandoned.

The NT and WA, which represents over half the Australian land mass, have done just that. Common sense needs to prevail on the eastern seaboard and the state governments should adopt a similar approach.

If ever there was a time for compassion and understanding by government, now is one of those times.

Mick Pattel
Comment by Aj & T
posted 1 year ago
At last, a transport minister who is willing to at least 'start listening' to industry about how these fatigue laws are unworkable and unfair.
Saturday, September 04, 2010