Changes to the heavy vehicle chain of responsibility rules have caused a furore in recent weeks – and not without cause. There will be sweeping changes in responsibility for trucks coming onto farms, but no one quite seems able to explain how these changes will be implemented.
The changes to the heavy vehicle regulations will take effect midyear and are intended to establish a positive duty, and “an obligation to eliminate and minimise public risks by doing everything reasonable to ensure transport-related activities are safe”. But while the higher level legislation has been passed, the layers underneath that to show exactly how to comply have not yet been established. Consultation with industry, and the explanations of the changes have been inadequate. The chief concerns are around the lack of clarity in how to comply with the changes, and the burden they will place on farmers.
We have received a string of calls from farmers who are deeply concerned by the proposed changes. Farmers are already under increasing stress about the shifting landscape of regulations, and are nearing breaking point with this further regulatory hurdle. This lack of clarity and consultation is creating an undue stress on farmers who just want to get on with business.
Farmers want to do the right thing and don’t want to put anyone at risk. However, any regulation must enable safe practices, without placing onerous and unreasonable burdens on business operations. These regulations seem to have been created without taking into consideration the different environment in which farmers operate when compared to other industries. We have many more sole operators and smaller businesses, and compliance with these new regulations creates a disproportionate burden on us. We need a common sense approach to safety that also acknowledges the realities facing agricultural businesses.
The Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association wants the legislation delayed by 12 months until the changes can be clarified effectively. The National Heavy Vehicles Regulator will have a representative at the upcoming VFF Grains Conference, who will be able to discuss the changes. There needs to be greater clarity around these reforms, or blanket laws will run the risk of unnecessarily catching up farmers in burdensome red tape. Farmers look forward to a logical and thought through regulation in this area.
