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Sterle report recommendations gain VTA support

Senate review creates federal Transport Standards Commission framework: Anderson

 

The Victorian Transport Association (VTA) has welcomed a Parliamentary report scrutinising the state of the Australian road transport industry.

The recommendations in that report, if taken up, could create a framework for a future Transport Standards Commission responsible for vehicles, training and contracts, VTA CEO Peter Anderson said.

The Without Trucks Australia Stops report was led by the shadow assistant minister for road safety, senator Glenn Sterle.

In preparing the report, the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee consulted with industry for months and considered dozens of submissions about how the industry could become more viable, safe, sustainable and efficient.

Of the 10 recommendations in the report, Anderson particularly welcomed:

  • the creation of an independent body for setting standards, resolving disputes, and establishing binding payment terms
  • the development of a national apprenticeship scheme to help attract workers to the sector
  • an expansion to the powers of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau to independently investigate commercial heavy vehicle road accidents
  • establishment of a national fund to assess, maintain and upgrade freight road in rural and regional areas, along with the creation of an independent national regulator to set commercial vehicle charges including toll road and port charges
  • the appointment of a dedicated Minister for Transport and a Transport Advisory Group to consult and advise ministers responsible for the infrastructure, transport and road freight portfolios

“The VTA was pleased to contribute to the committee on the formulation of this report and we commend senator Sterle for leading a consultative and non-partisan review that has the safety, productivity and efficiency of the road transport industry at its heart,” Anderson said.

“Many of the suggestions the VTA made in submissions and hearings have been addressed, particularly around training, driver licensing and professionalism, setting higher standards and resolving disputes, and formally recognising the importance of our sector with a specific minister for freight and transport.


More detail on the Sterle report, here


“Our key recommendation was forming a Transport Standards Commission to set minimum standards of operation for all road freight transport operators.

“As an independent administrative body, the Commission would focus on the standards of the road freight industry, specifically vehicles, training and contracts.

“Whilst not specifically addressed in this report, its recommendations create a framework for a future Transport Standards Commission, which would establish a threshold for the coordination and harmonisation of an industry that is desperate for change.”

 

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