Executive summary
- One of the most pressing concerns in Heavy Vehicle National Law reform review is the increase in penalties for offences. The draft reforms suggest a reduction in 21 penalties, but they also propose increasing 50 others.
- It’s time to cut the excessive fines that punish drivers for small mistakes. These penalties are not contributing to safer roads, and they’re not helping to solve the problems facing our industry.
- Governments must show leadership and adopt a clear vision for the future of road transport—one that is fair, practical, and focused on real outcomes.
NatRoad presses change in Heavy Vehicle National Law
You would think that after six long years of reviewing the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) the situation would have been resolved by now.
However, it’s time to face the hard truth: the proposed reforms are underwhelming. The government’s latest draft amendments to the HVNL are incremental at best.
The reality is that if federal, state, and territory transport ministers continue to fail to act decisively, we risk missing an opportunity to deliver meaningful change for the road transport industry.
While there are some positive steps forward, the proposed reforms do little to address the real issues our drivers face daily. After so many years of discussion and consultation, it’s deeply frustrating to see a missed opportunity to overhaul a system that has not kept pace with the demands of modern road transport.
One of the most pressing concerns is the increase in penalties for offences. The draft reforms suggest a reduction in 21 penalties, but they also propose increasing 50 others.
In some cases, fines could jump by as much as 100%, with maximum penalties nearing $30,000. This is a misguided approach that does nothing to improve road safety.
Instead, it will only exacerbate the growing truck driver shortage, which already stands at over 26,000 positions. How can we expect to attract and retain drivers when they are constantly being penalised for minor infringements, with little to no evidence that these fines improve safety outcomes?
We need to change the conversation around penalties. It’s time to cut the excessive fines that punish drivers for small mistakes. These penalties are not contributing to safer roads, and they’re not helping to solve the problems facing our industry.
The focus should be on fairness, not on imposing higher fines for the sake of political point-scoring. We have recommended more significant cuts to minor penalties and, importantly, the rejection of any new increases to penalties that do not deliver tangible safety improvements.
Another issue that must be addressed is fatigue management. While the draft amendments retain some flexibility, there are disturbing signs the government may be considering rolling back some of the progress made in this area.
Some operators who are currently on Advanced Fatigue Management (AFM) programs may find themselves with fewer options, and this could have a negative impact on safety. Fatigue management flexibility is essential for our industry, allowing operators to manage driver hours in a way that maximises both safety and efficiency. Taking that flexibility away would be a step backwards.
Lastly, there is a critical issue that has yet to receive the attention it deserves: heavy vehicle access.
NatRoad’s position is very clear: governments must eliminate at least 90% of access permits by 2028.
The administrative burden of access permits is one of the most frustrating and inefficient parts of the current system, and it creates delays and disruptions that affect the entire supply chain.
In fact, if nothing changes by 2028, it will be said that the HVNL has been on a decade long road to nowhere.
This issue is too important to shove into the too hard basket. It’s not too hard. It’s just a challenge and our industry never backs away from a challenge.
Quite simply, we have a clear goal: to see more streamlined access and a faster, more automated system for managing heavy vehicle routes. If we fail to act on this, we will be stuck with a system that continues to hold back the industry for another decade.
The proposed reforms to deliver automated access need more resourcing and a clear commitment to delivery.
Governments must show leadership and adopt a clear vision for the future of road transport—one that is fair, practical, and focused on real outcomes.
That means reducing unnecessary penalties, protecting and enhancing flexibility that allows us to manage fatigue, and tackling access reform with urgency. If these changes are not made, the last six years of review will have been nothing more than a missed opportunity to improve Australia’s road transport system.
For the sake of safety, fairness, and the future of our industry, we need bold, decisive action now.
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