It is still unclear whether NSW will forge ahead with a transition period to impending fatigue management laws
There is still uncertainty as to whether NSW will introduce a transition period to fatigue management laws despite the fact it was the first State to propose the idea.
The NSW branch of the Australian Trucking Association (ATA NSW) is stepping up its lobbying efforts in calling for a transition period but it is still waiting for a response from the Government.
Queensland and South Australia have announced a six-month transition to fatigue management, while Victoria has rejected the idea.
Philip Halton from the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) originally called for other states to work with NSW in implementing the transition but Minister for Roads Eric Roozendaal is remaining tight-lipped on the issue.
“Queensland and South Australia have just announced a six-month transition period. The NSW Government needs to follow suit and announce a transition period for operators in this State as well,” the manager of ATA NSW, Jill Lewis, says.
But the Government has not yet passed fatigue management legislation and Lewis says it has done little to help the industry understand its obligations under the new laws.
“The NSW Government hasn’t released the final details of the laws; there hasn’t been enough training, and there isn’t a single highway in the state with enough rest areas.”
Lewis will be joining the ATA at the Sydney Truck Show to explain the impact fatigue management laws, to come into force on September 29, will have on the trucking industry.
She will also use the event to boost the NSW branch’s membership, saying those who join will receive exclusive benefits.