by S M G | Jul 17, 2012 | Latest News
The QTLC was recently invited to provide a submission to the 2012 Review of the National Transport Commission (NTC) and Other Relevant Transport Bodies.
Transport Ministers agreed in November 2011 to conduct a review of the National Transport Commission (NTC), Austroads, ARRB Group Limited (ARRB), Transport Certification Australia (TCA) and the Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board (RISSB). The review is to examine the role and functions of these bodies going forward with the commencement of new national transport regulatory systems including the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) in January 2013.
Established in 2003, the NTC’s current role is to develop, monitor and maintain uniform or nationally consistent regulatory operational reforms relating to road, rail and intermodal transport and to develop road user charging principles for heavy vehicles.
The QTLC submission noted that the establishment of the NHVR and the development of model law have faltered with significant delays and a widely held expectation that many elements of the reform will not be in place for commencement in January 2013.
Reflecting findings of a 2009 review, the QTLC recommended that that the NTC be given an active role in facilitating implementation of reforms, project prioritisation and reporting to inform and deliver better reform results.
The QTLC submission also argues that, beyond the establishment of the NHVR, the NTC should retain an independent and ongoing role to monitor the implementation outcomes of the reforms and to identify and respond to heavy vehicle regulation issues that may warrant additional reforms, policies or operational frameworks to maintain the objectives of the harmonisation process.
Click here to view the QTLC submission, including other recommendations
by S M G | Jul 17, 2012 | Latest News
While the National Heavy Regulator was due to commence on the 1st January 2013, a number of media sources have reported that the start will be delayed until most likely July 2013.
The Australian Logistics Council recently quoted NHVR Project Office Director, Richard Hancock, as saying that July is probably the most likely date for when all the states and territories will have applied the heavy vehicle national law and that to avoid any confusion, the national regulator wouldn’t start administering things like issuing permits nationally until all states and territories are up to the same point.
The QTLC has written to the NHVR Project Office seeking a meeting to confirm the start date of NHVR and to discuss a number of other matters including the development of Ministerial Guidelines governing network access and decision making and to further scope pilots involving local government and fatigue management.
by S M G | Jul 17, 2012 | Latest News
The Federal Labor Government’s landmark shipping reforms came into effect on the 1st July 2012.
The tax reforms, including the establishment of the Australian International Shipping Register (AISR) are designed to promote investment in Australia’s involvement in international shipping. 99.9 per cent of Australia’s cargo trade is moved by ships, making it the 4th largest shipping task in the world and yet, Australia has only 4 international trading vessels.
The Government’s view is that a competitive and growing domestic shipping industry is in Australia’s long term national interest.
Companies which place vessels on the AISR will receive the government’s zero tax rate, the seafarer tax exemption (where companies do not have to pay employee income tax) and other fiscal incentives in the government’s shipping reform package, including:
- provision for accelerated depreciation of vessels via a cap of 10 years to the effective life of those vessels;
- rollover relief from income tax on the sale of a vessel; and
- an exemption from royalty withholding tax for payments made for the lease of a shipping vessel.
In addition to reducing the cost of owning and operating an Australian ship, under the government’s shipping reforms AISR vessels on international voyages will pay international wages and conditions as set by the International Transport Federation. AISR vessels will be able to hire foreign seafarers; though the master and chief engineer have to be Australian.
With the Australian merchant shipping fleet having shrunk by half over the last 10 years, these tax arrangements are a major step towards ensuring that investment in Australian shipping will continue.
by S M G | Jul 17, 2012 | Latest News
The QTLC together with Transport and Main Roads offered to 2 grants of $50,000 with the aim of encouraging and supporting Queensland based industries in identifying, trialling and evaluating innovative freight practices that will reduce urban congestion, minimise greenhouse gas emissions and deliver a more efficient and effective freight network.
The successful recipients of the Freight Smart Grant Scheme, Cannon Logistics and Strategix Training Group completed successful trials of their proposals and have presented their final reports to the QTLC.
Cannon Logistics trials tested Ice COLD Technology’s ability to deliver improved refrigeration efficiencies and fuel and carbon emission savings across the Australian refrigeration transport industry. The trials aimed to deliver savings by restoring lost efficiency caused by oil fouling which occurs naturally in refrigeration.
The trials proved successful and were completed on trailers in an “In Yard” and “On Road” environment. The average cost recovery period across both Continuous mode and Sentry Cycle mode is 7.46 months.
Return on Investment (ROI) results were calculated on trailer loads that most closely reflected typical operating conditions and was based 10 years of life usage.
Strategix Training Group presented their final In2Green product to the QTLC’s CEO on 25 May 2012 and includes a:
- In2 Green workbook
- In2Green instruction DVD
- IN2Green template CD
The program has ten easy steps to follow. It enables users to plan their routes in a more efficient manner, to allow optimum vehicle utilisation, while reducing urban congestion. It outlines programs such as eco-driving and smart planning applied to vehicles, including trucks to demonstrate efficiencies gained by implementing these programs. Eco drive trials have resulted in the reduction of fuel burn at an average of 22%.
Information relating to the Freight Smart Grant proposals will be available on the QTLC website.
The next steps will be to promote the final products, the QTLC will work with Cannon Logistic and Strategix Training to ensure that the benefits are shared with the freight and transport industry.
by S M G | Jul 17, 2012 | Latest News
A new standalone unit aimed at fostering investment partnerships that deliver positive infrastructure outcomes has been set up within the Queensland Department of Treasury and Trade, fulfilling a commitment made by the Queensland Government in its 100 Day Action Plan.
Treasurer Tim Nicholls last week said the new body, Projects Queensland, will focus on driving cooperative funding models that maximise private investment and ensure major projects are built on time and to budget.
According to the government, Projects Queensland’s key responsibilities will be:
- Preparation, evaluation and management of public-private partnership projects;
- Active engagement with the private sector to develop funding models to encourage private investment in infrastructure;
- Preparation of business cases and contract negotiations for government financed infrastructure where the expected cost is greater than $100 million;
- Acting in an advisory role assisting line agencies in the delivery of projects with an estimated capital cost below $100 million; and
- Review and maintenance of the government’s key infrastructure policies.
The Treasurer and Cabinet approved the creation of Projects Queensland in early June.
Former Director General of the Department of Transport and Main Roads, Dave Stewart, has been appointed interim head of Projects Queensland. He will start work on July 16 for a period of up to six months.
The QTLC is meeting with senior representatives from the Trade and Investment Queensland shortly and will seek to ascertain the role of Project Queensland in relation to critical freight transport and logistics infrastructure and the broader infrastructure planning and prioritisation process.
by S M G | Jul 17, 2012 | Latest News
The QTLC was recently the subject of a Feature Story in Prime Mover Magazine, June 2012 edition.
The article profiled the activities and objectives of the Council and identified a number of critical freight transport and logistics issues which the QTLC are seeking to influence.
Click here to read the full article
