The Australian Logistics Council (ALC) has welcomed a proposal by the National Transport Commission to improve the consistency of road rules in Australia.
The ALC is the peak representative body for the freight logistics industry.
Following a review of Australia road rules, NTC has recommended that the model law approach be replaced with an applied law approach, whereby one state enacts a law that other states and territories adopt in their own jurisdictions.
According to ALC managing director Michel Kilgariff, inconsistent national road rules reinforce the perception of Australia as a country of eight separate nations with companies operating across Australia facing unnecessary red tape.
ALC advocated for this change in its submission on the NTC’s Review of Australian Road Rules Discussion Paper to achieve greater cross-border consistency. NTC has recognised the potential safety benefits of having nationally consistent road rules through an applied law approach, which would improve efficiency, productivity and safety in the heavy vehicle industry.
Kilgariff explains that transport operators moving freight around Australia are often confronted with inconsistent road rules, which can make cross-border driving confusing, and in effect, more dangerous. Inconsistent laws increase the cost of transporting goods across state borders, which is passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices for everyday goods.
He adds that a more consistent regulatory framework is an important step towards improving safety for all road users, and would also improve efficiency in the heavy vehicle sector, which is good for the national economy and for all Australians.
Kilgariff also said that ALC’s support for nationally consistent road rules was in line with its broader policy position to achieve a seamless regulatory framework for the freight logistics sector.