Page 3772 - Week 12 - Thursday, 24 October 2013
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Heavy Vehicle National Law (ACT) Bill 2013
Ms Burch, on behalf of Mr Corbell, pursuant to notice, presented the bill, its explanatory statement and a Human Rights Act compatibility statement.
Title read by Clerk.
MS BURCH (Brindabella—Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Disability, Children and Young People, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Women, Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Minister for Racing and Gaming) (10.17): I move:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
I am pleased on behalf of the Attorney-General to present the Heavy Vehicle National Law (ACT) Bill 2013 today. This bill is presented in conjunction with the Heavy Vehicle National Law (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2013. These bills allow for the application of a heavy vehicle national law in the Australian Capital Territory and for the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator to regulate heavy vehicle activities in the territory under that law. The introduction of these bills is an integral step of a key national reform process that will reduce red tape, improve the efficiency of transport operators and put in place for the first time a truly national framework for the regulation of heavy vehicles.
For almost 20 years now the heavy vehicle industry has operated under laws passed by each state and territory that were based on model laws developed by the National Transport Commission. The detail of those laws has lacked consistency across Australia as jurisdictions adopted the model laws with variations to cater for their individual needs and circumstance. By contrast, this heavy vehicle national law delivers a single national law that combines nine different sets of heavy vehicle laws into one. This will cut red tape to improve productivity in the heavy vehicle industry and the Australian economy.
The regulatory impact statement prepared to support the heavy vehicle national law identified potential savings in excess of $12 billion over the two decades following the commencement of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.
The object of the heavy vehicle national law is to establish a national approach to the regulation of heavy vehicles on Australian roads in such a way that promotes public safety; manages the impact of heavy vehicles on the environment, road infrastructure and public amenity; promotes productivity and efficiency; provides for efficient road transport of goods and passengers by heavy vehicles; and encourages and promotes innovative and safe business practices.
The heavy vehicle national law reflects the 2011 Council of Australian Governments agreement to establish a national system of regulation consisting of a uniform national law administered by a single national regulator for all heavy vehicles over 4.5 tonnes. Queensland was chosen as the host jurisdiction for the national law and home for the
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