TA 23: More funding for rest stops

Ms King stated that building better roads will be a benefit for all Australians: “Better roads mean less time in transit leading to reduced transport costs and cheaper costs for consumers,” she said.

“Better roads also mean better rest stops. Heavy vehicle drivers in Australia deserve access to decent facilities when you need them, just like any other worker in the country," the Minister added.

“That’s why in our very first budget in October last year we committed an additional $80m to support new and upgraded heavy vehicle rest areas. This delivered on an election promise which I made less than 12 months ago and brings the Australian Government’s contribution dedicated to heavy vehicle rest stops to $140m.”

“It is expected that applications seeking funding as part of the heavy vehicle rest area initiative will be invited in the first half of this year. The program’s steering committee is chaired by Senator Glenn Sterle someone who still occasionally gets behind the wheel of a truck and features industry representatives including five active drivers.”

The Minister went on to say that this steering committee will give truckies a voice in shaping the projects that are funded through this initiative.

“Trucks keep Australia moving and it’s only fair that the men and women who drive them get the facilities that they need and deserve,” she said.

In her speech to the delegates of the ATA conference, Ms King said that the NHVL review was well under way.

“As you know, last year the infrastructure and transport ministers agreed to implement a package to completely revise the Heavy Vehicle National Law that gives more flexible grid space and makes better use of new technology,” she said.

“With the NTC taking the lead and Ken Kanofski remaining involved, a comprehensive regulation impact statement has been prepared and is going to ministers next month for their consideration. There’s a lot of complex interrelated pieces for us to get right but a draft bill should be coming together by the end of this year.

“Through this process, governments have agreed to automate, as far as is possible, the systems through which heavy vehicle operators apply for restricted vehicle access on certain roads and that they work together towards that end.

The minister also said that the National Transport Commission and the NHVR are developing further detail on a two-tiered system for managing driver fatigue. Does this mean that we will finally be able to do away with our hefty log books? We’ll have to wait and see.