The Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) Safety and Productivity Program is a two-year program of work to draft a simpler law for heavy vehicles in Australia.
The program builds on the work done in the HVNL Review to draft a new law that improves safety and productivity.
Transport ministers met in August 2022 and a decision on next steps is expected in September.
The goal of the program is to simplify the law and improve both safety and productivity – without compromising one for the other.
Engaging with a diverse range of stakeholders helps us understand the practical impacts of the policy we develop. But it also means we often hear opposing views.
Our role is to help bring together different views to create balanced, workable policy proposals and draft law.
Infrastructure and transport ministers asked the NTC to start the HVNL Safety and Productivity Program in May 2021.
Our work on the review focused on what needed to change in heavy vehicle law. Through extensive consultation, research and analysis, we identified problems with the HVNL and tried to find possible solutions.
With the ministers' approval, the NTC ended the HVNL Review and launched the Safety and Productivity Program.
We want a law that is less prescriptive and easier to follow. We're looking for opportunities to move the detail of obligations to regulations and guidelines.
The Safety and Productivity Program focuses on how we change heavy vehicle law.
It includes refining policy positions with the input of industry and government. We’ll draft a law that helps improve safety outcomes and gives industry flexibility and gains in efficiency.
The draft law, regulations and guidelines are expected in 2023.
Engagement with both industry and government is central to the Safety and Productivity Program. We're holding formal consultation sessions with:
These sessions help us test and refine our policy proposals.
The NTC is taking a new approach to the structure of the HVNL, focusing on five key areas for improvement. The aim is to create a simpler law that is more responsive, flexible and adaptable.
We want to make a more responsive scheme that allows for and adapts to new business practices, technologies and safety risks. We’re creating an improved national scheme that is more modular, comprehensive and flexible.
We want to make it easier to use new technology and innovation to support safety and productivity. We’re creating an adaptable technology and data framework to foster smarter technology investment.
We want to strengthen the law to enhance safety outcomes. We’re clarifying the primary duty and parties covered by the chain of responsibility.
We want to change the law and make it more flexible to allow for increased productivity. We’re looking for ways to simplify fatigue management and record-keeping without compromising safety.
We want to streamline the access process to reduce the need for permits and support quicker, easier access decisions.
Most of our engagement for this project is with formal working and advisory groups. But we know insights and good ideas can come from many sources.
If you'd like to express interest in the program, or ask us a question about our work, we'd like to hear from you.
You can also sign up to get news on our work in the heavy vehicles space by email.
A decision by transport ministers expected in September will confirm next steps.