NSW transport minister uses address to ALC Forum to hail industry support for his trucking crackdown
By Rob McKay | March 30, 2012
NSW Transport Minister Duncan Gay has used his address to the Australian Logistics Council Forum to hail industry support for his trucking crackdown.
In response to comments from the floor backing the initiative, Gay spoke glowingly of the calls of support from industry peak bodies.
He also underlined the weight of supportive phone calls and offers of intelligence on rogue elements in the industry and pledged that the effort, including full chain of responsibility investigations, would continue.
Gay warned that firms need to pull sub-contractors into line if they are found to be operating inappropriately.
He accepts the Australian Trucking Association’s (ATA) call that companies be able to pick up trailers carrying perishables or other urgent freight if prime movers are subject to investigation.
On other issues, Gay says the ‘bridges for the bush’ initiative aimed at curing some local government ‘last mile’ impediments was now with Infrastructure NSW for consideration.
He says progress is also being made on allowing modified road trains east of the Newell Highway and a capped volumetric livestock loading system to allow for seamless cross-border livestock trade. Gay says the latter proposal is about to go to cabinet for approval.
Asked by ALC Chairman Don Telford if he supported national regulatory reform, Gay was strongly positive.
“Yes, I am supportive,” he says.
“The days of NSW being one out and one back ended when I attended my first COAG [Council of Australian Governments] meeting.”
Gay also reacted to criticism from federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese regarding funding for the Pacific Highway.
Gay says NSW is taking on 4 percent more of the cost, to 20 percent, than state Labor had but was now under pressure to go for 50 percent.