Details are yet to be announced of the next stage of the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development’s review of the
Motor Vehicle Standards Act.
Submissions on the government’s
discussion paper for the review of the
Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 closed in October 2014.
A departmental spokesperson told
PWPro that the discussion paper considers all possible reform options, including ideas put forward by the Productivity Commission in its 2014 report on Australia’s Automotive Manufacturing Industry.
"No decision has been taken by the Government on the possible reform options, however the Government has announced that there is no intention to allow Australia to become the dumping ground for other countries’ older cars," the spokesperson said.
"Any potential changes to the Act flowing from the Review are being examined in close consultation with stakeholders and a Regulation Impact Statement is currently being developed for consideration by the Government this year."
The Australian Trucking Association emphasised the importance of retaining the existing system of design rules for heavy vehicles in its
submission to the government review.
Currently a number of ADRs that relate to heavy vehicles are not aligned to UN Regulations.
“The ADRs could be harmonised with the UN regulations where appropriate,” said Australian Trucking Association National Manager of Government Relations and Policy Bill McKinley.
“However, the UN regulations are not designed to cover Australia’s unique heavy vehicle combinations and operating conditions. Australian work practices in the heavy vehicle industry are also significantly different to those assumed in the UN regulations.”
Removing the ADRs and replacing them with legislative reference to UN regulations would create a bias towards European suppliers, because other suppliers would have to provide additional compliance certification, argued McKinley.
“The ATA is concerned that removing our unique ADRs would reduce safety and not address the multi combination vehicles used in Australia,” said McKinley.
“We’ve put the case to the Federal Government, and we are confident that the arguments we have put forward represent the best solution for all Australian road users and the heavy vehicle industry.”
The government is yet to announce the next stage of the review.
Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, the Hon Jamie Briggs MP approved the review of the
Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 in January 2014.