Heavy Vehicle National Law Steering Committee Meeting Statement from 14 November 2022
The following is a statement shared on behalf of the new Heavy Vehicle National Law Steering Committee and their secretariat team within the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (DITRDCA) following their meeting held on 14 November 2022.
The first Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) Steering Committee meeting was held via telepresence on Monday 14 November 2022.
The Steering Committee agreed arrangements to provide oversight for the implementation of the legislative and non-legislative HVNL reform package agreed to by the Infrastructure and Transport Ministers at their 5 August 2022.
At their 30 September 2022 meeting, Infrastructure and Transport Ministers agreed a Steering Committee comprising some of Australia’s most senior transport officials will provide oversight of the reform package.
The Steering Committee’s primary functions are to ensure the progress of reforms, maintain consistency with the approved reform package, Ministers’ timeframes are met, there is appropriate consultation, and consultation outcomes are reflected in implementation as appropriate.
The Steering Committee comprises the following members:
- Mr Jim Betts, Secretary, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (Commonwealth)
- Mr Rob Sharp, Secretary, Transport for New South Wales (New South Wales)
- Mr Neil Scales, Director-General, Department of Transport and Main Roads (Queensland)
- Mr Gary Swain, Deputy Secretary, Transport and Infrastructure, Department of State Growth (Tasmania).
The Steering Committee receives independent advice from Mr Matt Pinnegar (Chief Executive Officer, Australian Local Government Association) and Mr Ken Kanofski, who led recent industry consultation on the HVNL review and developed the package of reforms endorsed by Ministers. Mr Kanofski will continue to undertake further consultation for the Steering Committee, as required and directed .
The Steering Committee will report to the Infrastructure and Transport Senior Officials’ Committee.
Ministers tasked the National Transport Commission (NTC) to deliver a Decision Regulatory Impact Statement on the new HVNL in the first quarter of 2023. The NTC has committed to provide a draft bill for the new HVNL primary law for Ministers’ consideration in late 2023, with its contents consistent with the agreed reform package. The NTC will report its progress to the Steering Committee.
Non-legislative reforms will be delivered by nominated leads comprising jurisdictions, the NTC, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator and Austroads. Delivery timeframes for nonl-egislative reform leads will be approved and monitored by the Steering Committee. Non-legislative reform leads will be responsible for consultation with interested stakeholders.
A list of the non-legislative reform leads will be published early in 2023.
The Reform Advisory Committee Plus (RAC+), which comprises peak industry bodies, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, the Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency, and the Australian Local Government Association, will be the key forum through which industry will be engaged on both the legislative and non-legislative reforms.
The next meeting of the Steering Committee will be on 16 December 2022.
