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Opinion: Border consistency isnt too much to ask

The nation’s governments have shown before that they can make the right decisions

 

There was a small but important moment in the pandemic when the health experts who determine Australia’s fate acknowledged the importance of the heavy vehicle industry.

It was in March 2020 and at the height of business closures. The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee recommended to National Cabinet that it exempt roadhouses, dedicated truck stop facilities and truck driver lounges from having to shut.

Of course, National Cabinet gave the idea the green light. It could hardly do otherwise.

Heavy vehicles were keeping essential goods moving around the country.

Truck deliveries were ensuring supermarket shelves stayed stocked.

They were making sure pharmacies had adequate medicines on hand.

Keeping road facilities open was a recognition that drivers need access to showers, restrooms and facilities for their basic human needs as well as to undertake mandated fatigue management breaks.

That moment, and the importance of dedicated rest areas, was brought home to me when the Western Australian government announced $14 million of upgrades to regional truck stops.

These are essential parts of Australia’s road infrastructure but just have not been given enough attention in the past.

The 14 locations were decided after extensive consultation with the industry.


Read NatRoad’s warning on the cost of unfair contracts, here


The funding is part of the federal government’s $40 million Freight Vehicle Productivity Improvements Program, with another $36 million earmarked for 2022-23.

We’re assured that the same level of industry consultation will occur when that funding is made.

The program aims to improve efficiency and network reliability, accessibility and connectivity of road networks and road safety.

If only our leaders would apply the same degree of common sense to the bewildering array of rules and border passes that confront truckies when they cross borders.

We’ve seen constant closures and openings – sometimes at acutely short notice – and massive traffic queues at checkpoints.

Operators have been on the road and far from their depot when another set of rules has snapped into place, prompting a scramble for a new electronic form on a smartphone or access to a printer.

Too rarely have authorities seen fit to designate a ‘trucks only’ express lane or wave carriers through checkpoints when they display a form on their windshields.

So, here’s an idea: We may never persuade every state to agree when the time is right to restrict border access but why not get consensus for how it will occur?

Let’s have the same system of border permits with the same declaration requirements, and administer it online via the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.

Think of the improvements to efficiency and network reliability that sensible regulation would bring.

It’s not too much to ask on behalf of an essential industry.

Warren Clark is CEO of the National Road Transport Association (NatRoad)

 

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