Liberal senator slams NSW logbook laws, claiming they are a 'nightmare' for farmers and local truck drivers
The outspoken Liberal senator, Bill Heffernan, has fired a broadside at the NSW Government over its impending logbooks laws, claiming they are “stupid” and “scary”.
Heffernan has criticised the Government’s decision to scrap the 100km logbook exemption by forcing anyone driving a truck to maintain a work diary regardless of how far they operate from a depot or base of operations.
The exemption is to be scrapped when new fatigue management laws begin on September 29.
Heffernan claims the decision is nonsensical and is the result of “dysfunctional” government and bureaucrats with no practical knowledge.
According to Heffernan, the work diary laws mean farmers carting wheat to a silo on their own property will need to fill out a logbook, someone working a on a truck will need to record it and firemen will need to stop dousing flames to record their work time.
“They have got no bloody idea of what this means in practical terms,” Heffernan says of the Government.
“It is had to believe that this comes from a sensible bureaucracy backed by a competent government. We know that the NSW Government is the worst government in Australia.”
Heffernan has told the Government and stakeholders “to wake up to themselves” to realise the widespread impact scrapping the exemption will have on the day-to-day running of businesses.
He says there is already enough paperwork to grapple with, and the changes will add further administrative burden to all those involved in road transport.
“This is a potential nightmare,” Heffernan says.
“This is stupid,” Heffernan says.
A spokesperson for NSW Minister for Roads Michael Daley says the Government can grant exemptions in certain circumstances. However, it is not yet clear which circumstances may be exempted.
ATN contacted Daley’s office for clarification.