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HVNL review: access

25 January 2021

Significant reform is needed to fix the access problems which exist under the Heavy Vehicle National Law.

The ATA submission on access responds to the proposed options in chapter 9 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law consultation regulation impact statement.

The ATA supports a number of the proposed options to improve access decisions under the HVNL. These include changes to general access, options to improve permits and authorisation process, improvements to the statutory timeframe, enabling external reviews of decisions, developing standards for more consistent decisions, and reforms to improve the harmonisation of pilots and escorts.

However, options which would mandate on-board mass systems or deliver more complex access decisions should not be implemented. The cost benefit impact of these options has not been assessed, and they would impose additional cost burdens on supply chains.

Unfortunately, the consultation RIS lacks ambition. Governments need to pursue bold, integrated reforms to improve heavy vehicle access and productivity. More productive trucks move the freight task in less vehicle movements. However, the significant economic benefits are not being realised.

Governments should:

  • Deliver significant reform to access decisions under the HVNL
  • Achieve supply-side reforms to infrastructure funding to improve the provision of roads
  • Deliver a national, High Productivity Freight Vehicle network
  • Connect land use and transport planning with heavy vehicle access.

This submission should be read in conjunction with the ATA submission to the HVNL issues paper on access and the ATA submission on Heavy Vehicle Road Reform.

The ATA made a series of submissions to the NTC in response to the HVNL review consultation RIS. The other submissions are:

Attachments: