Northern Territory Second Reading Speeches

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TRAFFIC AMENDMENT BILL 1998

Bills presented and read a first time.

Mr COULTER: Mr Deputy Speaker, I move the bills be now read a second time.

Mr Deputy Speaker, the bills I present today, which amend the Motor Vehicles Act and the Traffic Act, arise mainly from the implementation in the Northern Territory of the national road transport reform measures. Included with these reform measures are some minor changes which form part of the government's continued push for safer roads for Territorians, and some housekeeping amendments which are considered necessary for the proper administration of these acts.

I would like to preface my address on these bills with some comment on the national road transport reform process. The national transport initiatives, provided by these 2 bills, are part of the ongoing and extensive national program of work being undertaken which involves reform of the road transport sector. The intent of the reform process is to develop nationally consistent approaches to transport regulations for the whole of Australia. The Territory is an active and willing participant in the reform process because of its reliance on heavy vehicle transport. For this reason, the development of a nationally consistent approach to road transport regulations will see benefits, not only for the transport industry, but the Territory as a whole.

In relation to the recently announced national heavy vehicle charges, the NT did not participate in the initial sign-up in 1991 to the Heavy Vehicle Agreement until the cost of registration charges for road trains was reduced to a more acceptable level. National charges were introduced in the Northern Territory in 1996. While a keen supporter of the benefits of road transport reform process, I am appalled at the lack of consultation and ham-fisted approach of the National Road Transport Commission in proposing significant increases, 25%, in charges of road train registration. I join with the Northern Territory Road Transport Association membership in condemning the charges as disincentive and impost on the development of remote Australia.

Voting on the proposed national registration charges of the ministerial council on road transport will be on a zonal basis. The Northern Territory is in Zone B, along with Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia. 50% or more the members voting against the charges will cause the proposal to be defeated. I have lobbied my colleagues in Western Australia and Queensland, who are also extremely concerned of the impact of the proposed charges on the heavy road transport industries. Currently indications are that the charges will not get up in Zone B. I will be joining with my colleagues in other remote area jurisdictions in voting down these proposed charges. My department, working at the technical level in close consultation with the NTRTA, and myself, working at the political level, will help ensure an acceptable charges outcome.

At the local level, there have been significant productivity increases for NT operators as a result of the reform process. A local mass management and mass limits increase for heavy vehicles were introduced into the Northern Territory in May 1997, ahead of all other jurisdictions. The debate on this reform is still raging at the national level.

On another positive note, it is through the reform process that we have been able to break down a lot of cross-border restrictions and regulations that applied to the transport industry. It is through this process the transport industry was able to gain wider road train access into neighbouring jurisdictions without the need to complete a vast number of forms or have in possession any number of permits or exemptions upon entering or visiting jurisdictions, all to comply with the number of different regulatory requirements specific to each jurisdiction.

The amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act and the Traffic Act will not change the way business is conducted at the Motor Vehicle Registry or police stations in the Northern Territory. The bulk of these amendments are part of the national registration and driver licensing scheme which establishes consistent approaches to key driver licensing and registration transactions. Many of the components of the two schemes are already in place in the Territory through existing legislation and administrative practices. I take the opportunity to list some of the key elements of the national scheme in relation to the national drivers licensing scheme and the concept of one driver and one license applies: common licenses classes and eligibility criteria, mutual recognition of interstate license and proof of identity requirements, license disqualification which apply across all jurisdictions and a nationally consistent points demerit scheme.

The national licensing principle will not apply to learner drivers and holders of provisional licenses at this stage due to the significant regional differences in the licensing of young drivers. For example, the Northern Territory wishes to retain it's ability to license 16 year olds. This ability allows young people to join the work force in areas where long distances may be travelled for work and the availability of public transport may be limited. In relation to heavy vehicle registration scheme, the concept of operator onus is in addition to the owner, the requirement that the vehicle must be registered in the same jurisdiction as it's principle base of operation. In other words, a garage address, and part year registration options and mutual recognition of defect notices and clearances for defect notices between jurisdictions. This is quite a second reading speech. Are you really keen? I have got some other stuff to get on which. Can I seek incorporation of the rest of this second reading speech. It is quite long.

Mr Deputy Speaker, I seek leave to have the remaining portion of my second reading speech incorporated into Hansard.

Leave granted.

[Editors: the remaining portion of the second-reading speech will appear in the Parliamentary Record]

Debate adjourned.

 

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