Minister: Minister for Transport and Main Roads
Agency: Department of Transport and Main Roads


Heavy Vehicle National Law Act 2012


Queensland Crest
Heavy Vehicle National Law Act 2012

An Act providing for the adoption of a national law regulating the use of heavy vehicles

Part 1 Preliminary

1Short title

This Act may be cited as the Heavy Vehicle National Law Act 2012.

2Commencement

(1)This Act commences on a day to be fixed by proclamation.
(2)However, if no day has been fixed by 1 July 2018, the Act commences on that day.
(3)The Acts Interpretation Act 1954, section 15DA does not apply to this Act.

s 2 amd 2015 No. 6 s 23

2ASpecial provision about commencement of Heavy Vehicle National Law (Queensland)

(1)The following provisions of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (Queensland), as at the commencement of section 12 of the HVNL Amendment Act, commence on the day that section commences—
(a)Parts 1.1 to 1.3;
(b)Chapter 12;
(c)sections 705 and 707;
(d)Parts 13.4 to 13.6;
(e)Part 14.1;
(f)section 755;
(g)Schedule 1.
(2)The remaining provisions of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (Queensland), as at the commencement of section 12 of the HVNL Amendment Act, commence on a day to be fixed by proclamation.
(3)This section applies despite section 2(1) but does not limit the application of section 2(2) to the provisions of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (Queensland).
(4)In this section—
HVNL Amendment Act means the Heavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Act 2013.

Note—

Section 12 of the HVNL Amendment Act replaces the Schedule.

s 2A ins 2013 No. 4 s 4

3Definitions

(1)For the purposes of this Act, the local application provisions of this Act are the provisions of this Act other than the Heavy Vehicle National Law set out in the Schedule.
(2)In the local application provisions of this Act—
Heavy Vehicle National Law (Queensland) means the provisions applying in this jurisdiction because of section 4.
National Law, for part 4A, see section 42B.
the Law means the Heavy Vehicle National Law (Queensland).
TORUM means the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995.
transport Act see TORUM, schedule 4.
(3)Terms used in the local application provisions of this Act and also in the Heavy Vehicle National Law set out in the Schedule have the same meanings in those provisions as they have in that Law.

s 3 amd 2013 No. 26 s 4; 2018 No. 10 s 6

Part 2 Adoption of Heavy Vehicle National Law

Note—

To ensure harmonisation across Australian jurisdictions, the Heavy Vehicle National Law, in the form set out in the Schedule, is intended for adoption by other jurisdictions as well as Queensland. Accordingly, the Heavy Vehicle National Law is not entirely consistent with Queensland’s current drafting style.

pt 2 note ins 2013 No. 4 s 5

Division 1 General

4Application of Heavy Vehicle National Law

The Heavy Vehicle National Law set out in the Schedule—
(a)applies as a law of this jurisdiction, as modified by parts 4 and 4A; and
(b)as so applying, may be referred to as the Heavy Vehicle National Law (Queensland); and
(c)so applies as if it were part of this Act.

s 4 amd 2018 No. 10 s 7

5Exclusion of legislation of this jurisdiction

(1)The following Acts of this jurisdiction do not apply to the Heavy Vehicle National Law (Queensland) or to the instruments made under that Law, other than to the extent provided for in subsections (3) to (6) or section 17
(a)the Acts Interpretation Act 1954;
(b)the Auditor-General Act 2009;
(c)the Financial Accountability Act 2009;
(d)the Information Privacy Act 2009;
(e)the Public Records Act 2002;
(f)the Public Sector Ethics Act 1994;
(g)the Public Service Act 2008;
(h)the Right to Information Act 2009;
(i)the Statutory Bodies Financial Arrangements Act 1982;
(j)the Statutory Instruments Act 1992.
(2)Also, the Legislative Standards Act 1992 does not apply to a regulation made under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (Queensland), other than to the extent provided for in section 17.
(3)The Acts Interpretation Act 1954, section 20C applies to the Heavy Vehicle National Law (Queensland) and instruments made under that Law.
(4)The Auditor-General Act 2009 applies to the extent provided for in the national regulations under the Heavy Vehicle National Law.

Note—

See the Heavy Vehicle National Law, sections 693 and 730.
(5)The Acts mentioned subsection (1)(d), (e) and (h) apply to the Heavy Vehicle National Law (Queensland), and to the instruments made under that Law, in the way provided by section 696 of the Law.
(6)The Acts mentioned in subsection (1)(b) to (i) apply to an entity of the State exercising functions under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (Queensland).
(7)To remove any doubt, it is declared that—
(a)subsection (1)(a) does not limit the application of the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 to the local application provisions of this Act; and

Example—

The terms ‘magistrate’ in section 14 and ‘QCAT’ in sections 10 and 36 take their meaning from the Acts Interpretation Act 1954, schedule 1.
(b)subsection (1)(j) does not limit the application of the Statutory Instruments Act 1992 to a regulation made under the local application provisions of this Act.

s 5 amd 2013 No. 4 s 6; 2013 No. 39 s 110 (1) sch 3pt 1

Division 2 Meaning of particular terms for Heavy Vehicle National Law (Queensland)

6Purpose of div 2

This division defines particular terms, and makes particular declarations, for the purposes of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (Queensland).

7Definitions of generic terms and terms having meaning provided by this Act

In the Heavy Vehicle National Law (Queensland)
Magistrates Court ...

def Magistrates Court om 2013 No. 26 s 5

police officer means a police officer within the meaning of the Police Service Administration Act 1990.
this jurisdiction means Queensland.

8Particular laws

(1)For the purposes of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (Queensland)
(a)the State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 is declared to be the Infringement Notice Offences Law for this jurisdiction; and
(b)the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 is declared to be the primary WHS Law for this jurisdiction; and
(c)the Transport Operations (Road Use Management—Road Rules) Regulation 2009 is declared to be the Road Rules for this jurisdiction.
(2)An offence against the Heavy Vehicle National Law (Queensland) prescribed under a regulation under the State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 as an infringement notice offence is an offence prescribed by a law of this jurisdiction for the purposes of section 591 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (Queensland).
(3)The Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995 is specified for section 727(1), definition relevant law of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (Queensland).

s 8 amd 2013 No. 26 s 6

9Local government authority

Each of the following is declared to be a local government authority for this jurisdiction for the purposes of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (Queensland)
(a)the Brisbane City Council;
(b)a local government under the Local Government Act 2009.

10Relevant tribunal or court

(1)Subject to subsections (2) and (3), QCAT is declared to be the relevant tribunal or court for this jurisdiction for the purposes of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (Queensland).
(2)A Magistrates Court is declared to be the relevant tribunal or court for this jurisdiction for the purposes of the following provisions of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (Queensland)
(a)section 556;
(b)section 560;
(c)section 565;
(d)section 590D.
(3)The reference to a relevant tribunal or court in section 727(1), definition protected information, paragraph (b)(iii) is a reference to any tribunal or court.

s 10 amd 2013 No. 26 s 7; 2016 No. 65 s 4

11Road authority

The chief executive of the department in which the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995 is administered is declared to be the road authority for this jurisdiction for the purposes of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (Queensland).

12Road manager for a road

(1)The following entity is declared to be the road manager for a road in this jurisdiction for the purposes of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (Queensland)
(a)for a State-controlled road—the chief executive of the department in which the Transport Infrastructure Act 1994, chapter 6 is administered;
(b)for a road controlled by a local government authority—the local government authority;
(c)for the Airport Link franchised road—a franchisee for the road;
(d)for a franchised road other than the Airport Link franchised road—the chief executive of the department in which the Transport Infrastructure Act 1994, chapter 6 is administered;
(e)for a local government franchised road—a local government franchisee of the road;
(f)for another road—an owner of the road.
(2)In this section—
Airport Link franchised road means the franchised road known as the ‘Airport Link’ the subject of the gazette notice under the Transport Infrastructure Act 1994, section 93 made on 18 July 2008.
franchised road see the Transport Infrastructure Act 1994, schedule 6.
franchisee, for the Airport Link franchised road, means a person who, under the Transport Infrastructure Act 1994, is a franchisee for the road franchise agreement for the road.
local government franchised road see the Transport Infrastructure Act 1994, section 105B.
local government franchisee, for a local government franchised road, means a person who, under the Transport Infrastructure Act 1994, chapter 6, part 8, is a local government franchisee for the local government tollway franchise agreement for the road.
local government tollway franchise agreement see the Transport Infrastructure Act 1994, section 105Y.
road franchise agreement see the Transport Infrastructure Act 1994, section 85.
State-controlled road see the Transport Infrastructure Act 1994, schedule 6.

13Police officers who are authorised officers

Every police officer is declared to be an authorised officer for the purposes of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (Queensland).

Note—

See also section 35.

s 13 amd 2013 No. 4 s 7

14Authorised warrant official

Each magistrate is declared to be an authorised warrant official for the purposes of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (Queensland).

15Areas that are roads

A busway within the meaning given by the Transport Infrastructure Act 1994 is declared to be a road for the purposes of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (Queensland).

16[Repealed]

s 16 om 2016 No. 65 s 5

Part 3 National regulations

17Parliamentary scrutiny of national regulations

(1)The Statutory Instruments Act 1992, sections 49 to 51 apply to a national regulation as if—
(a)a reference in the sections to subordinate legislation were a reference to a national regulation; and
(b)the reference to notified under section 47 in section 49 of that Act were a reference to published as mentioned in section 733(1) of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (Queensland).

Note—

Generally speaking, the Statutory Instruments Act 1992, sections 49 to 51 deal with the tabling and disallowance of subordinate legislation and the limited saving of operation of subordinate legislation that ceases to have effect.
(2)The Legislative Standards Act 1992, part 4 applies to a national regulation as if—
(a)a reference in the part to subordinate legislation were a reference to a national regulation; and
(b)the reference to the responsible Minister in section 22(2) of that Act were a reference to the Minister who administers the Heavy Vehicle National Law (Queensland).

Note—

Generally speaking, the Legislative Standards Act 1992, part 4 deals with the tabling and content of explanatory notes for Bills and subordinate legislation.
(3)A committee of the Legislative Assembly may deal with a national regulation, under the Parliament of Queensland Act 2001, as if a reference in the Act to subordinate legislation, or an item of subordinate legislation, were a reference to a national regulation.
(4)For subsection (3), the Legislative Standards Act 1992, section 4 applies to a national regulation as if a reference in the section to subordinate legislation were a reference to a national regulation.

Note—

Generally speaking, the Legislative Standards Act 1992, section 4 deals with the application of fundamental legislative principles to Bills and subordinate legislation.
(5)If a national regulation ceases to have effect because of the operation of subsection (1), the national regulation ceases to have effect for the purposes of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (Queensland), but the cessation does not affect the application of the regulation in any other jurisdiction.
(6)In this section—
national regulation means a regulation, or a provision of a regulation, made under the Heavy Vehicle National Law set out in the Schedule.

s 17 amd 2013 No. 4 s 8; 2013 No. 39 s 111 sch 4

Part 4 Provisions specific to this jurisdiction

Division 1 Preliminary

div hdg ins 2013 No. 4 s 10

18Definitions for pt 4

In this part—
commissioner means the police commissioner of this jurisdiction.
public safety condition means a condition directed at ensuring public safety.

s 18 ins 2013 No. 4 s 10

sub 2013 No. 26 s 8

Division 2 Requirement for commissioner’s consent for mass or dimension exemptions

div hdg ins 2013 No. 4 s 10

19Definitions for div 2

In this division—
commissioner ...

def commissioner om 2013 No. 26 s 9 (2)

commissioner’s amendment or cancellation decision means a decision of the commissioner—
(a)under section 26, to ask the Regulator to amend or cancel a mass or dimension exemption (notice); or
(b)under section 27, to ask the Regulator to amend or cancel a mass or dimension exemption (permit).
commissioner’s conditional decision see section 23(3).
commissioner’s refusal decision see section 22(7).
critical area means an area of this jurisdiction shown on a relevant map, as in force when a consent mentioned in section 20 or 21 is given, as a critical area.
critical road means a road in this jurisdiction shown on a relevant map, as in force when a consent mentioned in section 20 or 21 is given, as a critical road.
non-critical area means this jurisdiction, other than any part of this jurisdiction that is a critical area or critical road.
public safety condition ...

def public safety condition om 2013 No. 26 s 9 (2)

relevant map means a map—
(a)developed by the chief executive in relation to the giving of consents as mentioned in sections 20 and 21; and
(b)as published on the department’s website from time to time.
review and appeal information, for a commissioner’s conditional decision, a commissioner’s refusal decision or a commissioner’s amendment or cancellation decision, means the following information—
(a)that, under section 641 of the Law, as applied under this division, a dissatisfied person for the decision may apply to the Regulator to have the decision reviewed;
(b)that, under section 643 of the Law, as applied under this division, the Regulator must refer the application to the commissioner for review;
(c)that the decision of the commissioner on the review is not subject to further review or appeal under the Law.

s 19 ins 2013 No. 4 s 10

amd 2013 No. 26 s 9 (1)

20Other consents under s 118 of the Law

(1)For section 118(1)(c) of the Law, the consent of the commissioner is required for a mass or dimension exemption (notice).
(2)However, a consent is required under subsection (1) for a mass or dimension exemption (notice) only to the extent the exemption applies to any of the following—
(a)the use of class 1 heavy vehicles, of more than a width or length prescribed under a regulation for this paragraph, in a critical area or on a critical road;
(b)the use of class 1 heavy vehicles, of more than a width or length prescribed under a regulation for this paragraph, in the non-critical area.
(3)To remove any doubt, it is declared that subsection (1), as limited by subsection (2), is, for section 167(2)(d) of the Law, a law of this jurisdiction that requires consultation with third parties.

s 20 ins 2013 No. 4 s 10

amd 2013 No. 26 s 10

21Other consents under s 124 of the Law

(1)For section 124(1)(c) of the Law, the consent of the commissioner is required for a mass or dimension exemption (permit).
(2)However, a consent is required under subsection (1) for a mass or dimension exemption (permit) only to the extent the exemption applies to any of the following—
(a)the use of a class 1 heavy vehicle, of more than a width or length prescribed under a regulation for this paragraph, in a critical area or on a critical road;
(b)the use of a class 1 heavy vehicle, of more than a width or length prescribed under a regulation for this paragraph, in the non-critical area.
(3)To remove any doubt, it is declared that subsection (1), as limited by subsection (2), is, for section 167(2)(d) of the Law, a law of this jurisdiction that requires consultation with third parties.

s 21 ins 2013 No. 4 s 10

amd 2013 No. 26 s 11

22Deciding request for consent generally

(1)This section applies if the commissioner’s consent to the grant of a mass or dimension exemption is required as mentioned in section 20 or 21.
(2)The Regulator must ask the commissioner for the consent.
(3)The commissioner must decide to give or not to give the consent within 28 days after the request is made.
(4)The commissioner may decide not to give the consent only if the commissioner is satisfied—
(a)the mass or dimension exemption will, or is likely to, adversely affect public safety; and
(b)it is not possible to grant the exemption subject to conditions that will avoid, or significantly minimise, the adverse effects, or likely adverse effects, on public safety.
(5)Also, in deciding whether or not to give the consent, the commissioner must have regard to the approved guidelines for granting mass or dimension exemptions.
(6)If the commissioner decides not to give consent to the grant of the exemption, the commissioner must give the Regulator written reasons for the commissioner’s decision.
(7)A decision of the commissioner not to give consent to the grant of a mass or dimension exemption (permit) is a commissioner’s refusal decision.

s 22 ins 2013 No. 4 s 10

23Imposition of conditions

(1)The commissioner may decide to consent to the grant of a mass or dimension exemption subject to a condition that a stated public safety condition is imposed on the exemption.
(2)If the commissioner decides to consent in a way mentioned in subsection (1)—
(a)the commissioner must give the Regulator written reasons for the commissioner’s decision to give consent to the grant of the exemption subject to the imposition of the public safety condition; and
(b)the Regulator must impose the public safety condition on the exemption.
(3)A decision of the commissioner to consent to the grant of a mass or dimension exemption (permit) in a way mentioned in subsection (1) is a commissioner’s conditional decision.

s 23 ins 2013 No. 4 s 10

24Information notice for decision to refuse application because commissioner did not give consent

(1)This section applies if an application for a mass or dimension exemption (permit) is refused, wholly or partly, because the commissioner has refused to consent to the exemption.
(2)The information notice for the decision to refuse the application given to the applicant under section 128 of the Law must state the following, in addition to any other information required to be included in the information notice—
(a)that the commissioner has refused to consent to the mass or dimension exemption (permit);
(b)the written reasons given for the commissioner’s refusal decision;
(c)the review and appeal information for the commissioner’s refusal decision.

s 24 ins 2013 No. 4 s 10

25Information notice for imposition of condition requested by commissioner

(1)This section applies if—
(a)the Regulator grants a mass or dimension exemption (permit) to a person; and
(b)the exemption is subject to a public safety condition required by the commissioner under section 23.
(2)If the Regulator is not otherwise required under section 127(1)(b) of the Law to give the person an information notice, the Regulator must nevertheless give the person an information notice for the commissioner’s conditional decision.
(3)If the Regulator is required under section 127(1)(b) to give the person an information notice, the information notice must also apply to the commissioner’s conditional decision.
(4)The information notice, to the extent it applies to the commissioner’s conditional decision, must state the following—
(a)that the commissioner consented to the mass or dimension exemption (permit) on the condition that the public safety condition is imposed on the exemption;
(b)the written reasons given for the commissioner’s conditional decision;
(c)the review and appeal information for the commissioner’s conditional decision.

s 25 ins 2013 No. 4 s 10

26Amendment or cancellation of mass or dimension exemption (notice) on request by commissioner

(1)This section applies if the commissioner is satisfied that the use of heavy vehicles on a road under a mass or dimension exemption (notice) for which the commissioner’s consent was given has adversely affected, or is likely to adversely affect, public safety.
(2)The commissioner may ask the Regulator to—
(a)amend the mass or dimension exemption (notice), including, for example, by—
(i)amending the areas or routes to which the exemption applies; or
(ii)amending the days or hours to which the exemption applies; or
(iii)imposing or amending public safety conditions; or
(b)cancel the exemption to the extent that, wholly or partly, the exemption has effect in this jurisdiction.
(3)The Regulator must comply with the request.
(4)The Regulator must publish notice of the amendment or cancellation—
(a)in the Commonwealth Gazette; and
(b)on the Regulator’s website; and
(c)if the Regulator considers it appropriate—in another way, including, for example, in a national newspaper.
(5)The amendment or cancellation takes effect—
(a)28 days after the Commonwealth Gazette notice is published under subsection (4); or
(b)if a later time is stated in the Commonwealth Gazette notice, at the later time.

s 26 ins 2013 No. 4 s 10

amd 2016 No. 65 s 115

27Amendment or cancellation of mass or dimension exemption (permit) on request by commissioner

(1)This section applies if the commissioner is satisfied that the use of heavy vehicles on a road under a mass or dimension exemption (permit) for which the commissioner’s consent was given has adversely affected, or is likely to adversely affect, public safety.
(2)The commissioner may ask the Regulator to—
(a)amend the mass or dimension exemption (permit), including, for example, by—
(i)amending the areas or routes to which the exemption applies; or
(ii)amending the days or hours to which the exemption applies; or
(iii)imposing or amending public safety conditions; or
(b)cancel the exemption to the extent that, wholly or partly, the exemption has effect in this jurisdiction.
(3)The Regulator must comply with the request.
(4)If the mass or dimension exemption (permit) is amended or cancelled under this section, the Regulator must give the holder of the exemption notice of the amendment or cancellation at least 28 days before the amendment or cancellation is to take effect.
(5)The notice given to the holder must state—
(a)the day the amendment or cancellation is to take effect; and
(b)the reasons given by the commissioner for the amendment or cancellation; and
(c)the review and appeal information for the commissioner’s decision.

s 27 ins 2013 No. 4 s 10

28Reviewable decisions

Each of the following is taken to be a reviewable decision for Chapter 11 of the Law—
(a)a commissioner’s refusal decision;
(b)a commissioner’s conditional decision.
(c)a commissioner’s amendment or cancellation decision.

s 28 ins 2013 No. 4 s 10

29Applying review and appeal provisions of the Law

(1)This section makes special provision about how the Law applies in relation to a commissioner’s refusal decision, a commissioner’s conditional decision or a commissioner’s amendment or cancellation decision (the commissioner’s decision).
(2)For applying section 641 of the Law to the commissioner’s decision, a dissatisfied person includes—
(a)for a commissioner’s refusal decision or a commissioner’s conditional decision—the applicant for the mass or dimension exemption (permit) the subject of the decision; and
(b)for a commissioner’s amendment or cancellation decision—
(i)if a mass or dimension exemption (notice) is the subject of the decision—a person adversely affected by the decision; or
(ii)if a mass or dimension exemption (permit) is the subject of the decision—the person to whom the exemption was granted.
(3)Section 642 of the Law does not apply in relation to the commissioner’s decision.
(4)For applying sections 643 to 646 of the Law, a reference to a road manager for a road, or to a road manager, is taken to include a reference to the commissioner.
(5)The review decision for the commissioner’s decision can not be the subject of an appeal under Part 11.3 of the Law.
(6)Without limiting subsection (5)—
(a)references to an appeal in section 645 of the Law may be ignored; and
(b)section 646(2) of the Law applies only to the extent of section 646(2)(a) and (b).

s 29 ins 2013 No. 4 s 10

Division 3 Additional evidentiary provisions

div hdg ins 2013 No. 4 s 10

30Additional Regulator certificates

(1)A certificate purporting to be issued by the Regulator and stating that, at a stated time or during a stated period or by a stated day—
(a)a stated thing was the property of the Regulator; or
(b)a stated sign was or was not an official traffic sign, contained stated words or was on a stated place; or
(c)a stated vehicle was or was not inspected under the Law; or
(d)a stated vehicle was or was not inspected in compliance with a stated requirement made by an authorised officer; or
(e)an inspection of a stated vehicle under the Law gave stated results; or
(f)a stated application, or another stated document required to be lodged under the Law, was or was not received by the Regulator; or
(g)a stated report or stated information required to be given to the Regulator under the Law was received or was not received by the Regulator; or
(h)no report or information of a stated type, required to be given to the Regulator under the Law, was received by the Regulator; or
(i)a stated vehicle was or was not of a stated type, or was carrying stated goods; or
(j)a stated heavy vehicle was or was not, whether generally or for the purposes of stated circumstances, insured in accordance with the requirements of any third party insurance legislation applying to the vehicle; or
(k)a stated copy of a document was a copy of a document issued, or required to be kept, under the Law; or
(l)a stated document was a manufacturer’s specification for a stated type of vehicle;
(m)a stated vehicle’s GCM or GVM was a stated amount, and how the amount was identified;

is evidence of the matter.

(2)Subsection (1) does not limit section 711 of the Law.
(3)Section 715 of the Law applies to a matter mentioned in subsection (1)(a) to (m) as if the matter was stated in a certificate under section 711 of the Law.

s 30 ins 2013 No. 4 s 10

amd 2013 No. 26 s 12

31Additional road authority certificates

(1)A certificate purporting to be issued by the entity that, under section 11, is the road authority for this jurisdiction, and stating that, at a stated time or during a stated period—
(a)stated particulars existed in relation to a stated conviction, disqualification, suspension, cancellation, licence or other stated matter under a transport Act or a corresponding law to a transport Act; or
(b)a stated copy of a document was a copy of a document issued, or required to be kept, under a transport Act or a corresponding law to a transport Act; or
(c)a stated entity was a corresponding authority; or
(d)a stated vehicle was or was not inspected under a transport Act; or
(e)an inspection of a stated vehicle under a transport Act gave stated results; or
(f)a stated vehicle’s GCM or GVM was a stated amount, and how the amount was identified; or
(g)a stated vehicle was or was not registered under TORUM as a heavy vehicle; or
(h)a stated vehicle registered under TORUM was or was not registered as a heavy vehicle of a stated category; or
(i)a stated person was or was not the registered operator, under TORUM, of a stated vehicle; or
(j)a stated registration under TORUM was or was not amended or cancelled under that Act;

is evidence of the matter.

(2)Subsection (1) does not limit section 712 of the Law.
(3)Section 715 of the Law applies to a matter mentioned in subsection (1)(a) to (f) as if the matter was stated in a certificate under section 712 of the Law.
(4)In this section—
corresponding authority see the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995, schedule 4.
corresponding law see the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995, schedule 4.

s 31 ins 2013 No. 4 s 10

amd 2013 No. 26 s 13; 2018 No. 10 s 8

32Evidence of contents of document examined by authorised officer

Evidence by an authorised officer of the contents of a document issued, or required to be kept, under the Law, that was examined by the officer while it was in someone else’s possession, may be given by the officer without the document being produced.

Example—

An authorised officer who examines a driver’s work diary may return the work diary to the driver to enable the driver to continue driving. The officer may give evidence of the contents of the work diary without producing it.

s 32 ins 2013 No. 4 s 10

33Averments

(1)In a proceeding for an offence against the Law, a statement in the complaint for the offence that—
(a)at a stated time or during a stated period—
(i)a stated person was or was not the holder of a driver licence under the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995 of any particular class or type; or
(ii)a stated person was or was not the holder of a driver licence under the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995 authorising the holder to drive a motor vehicle on a stated road; or
(b)any distance mentioned in the complaint is or was a stated distance or is or was greater or less than a stated distance;

is evidence of the matter.

(2)Section 715 of the Law applies to the matter mentioned in subsection (1)(b) as if the matter were a matter stated in a certificate to which the section applies.

s 33 ins 2013 No. 4 s 10

Division 4 Special provisions about Regulator

div hdg ins 2013 No. 4 s 10

34Declarations about industrial relations status of Regulator

(1)It is declared that —
(a)the Regulator is not a public sector employer for the purposes of the Fair Work (Commonwealth Powers) and Other Provisions Act 2009; and
(b)it is the intention of the Parliament that the Regulator be a national system employer for the purposes of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cwlth).
(2)No Act of Queensland can have effect to stop the Regulator from being a national system employer for the purposes of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cwlth).

s 34 ins 2013 No. 4 s 10

Division 5 Other specific provisions

div hdg ins 2013 No. 4 s 10

35Application of particular provisions to police officers

A provision of Chapter 9 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (Queensland) that corresponds to a provision of the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000 does not apply to an authorised officer who is a police officer.

s 35 (prev s 18) renum 2013 No. 4 s 9

36Review of decision by QCAT as relevant tribunal or court

A reference in the Heavy Vehicle National Law (Queensland) to an appeal against a decision is, for an appeal to QCAT as the relevant tribunal or court, a reference to a review of the decision as provided under the QCAT Act.

s 36 (prev s 19) renum 2013 No. 4 s 9

37Use of force

(1)For section 491(2) of the Law, a police officer is authorised to use force against a person in the exercise or purported exercise of a function under Chapter 9 of the Law if the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000 authorises the police officer to use the force against the person.
(2)For section 492(1)(b) of the Law, the exercise of the power to use force against property is authorised for the purposes of the following provisions of the Law—
(a)section 497(4)(a);
(b)section 498(6);
(c)section 500(2)(c);
(d)section 518(6)(b);
(e)section 519(7);
(f)section 521(1);
(g)section 523(2).

s 37 ins 2013 No. 26 s 15

38Power to seize

If, apart from section 552(1) of the Law, a heavy vehicle, or a thing mentioned in section 552(1)(b) of the Law, is a thing that may be seized under Chapter 9 of the Law, it may be seized under Chapter 9 of the Law despite section 552(1).

s 38 ins 2013 No. 26 s 15

39Power to require production of driver licence

(1)An authorised officer may, for compliance purposes, require the driver of a heavy vehicle to produce for inspection by the officer the driver’s driver licence.
(2)A person of whom a requirement is made under subsection (1) must comply with the requirement, unless the person has a reasonable excuse.

Maximum penalty—45 penalty units.

(3)It is not a reasonable excuse for the person to fail to comply with a requirement made under subsection (1)—
(a)that the person does not have the driver licence in his or her immediate possession; or
(b)that complying with the requirement might tend to incriminate the person or make the person liable to a penalty.
(4)The authorised officer may take a copy of, or an extract from, the driver’s driver licence.

s 39 ins 2013 No. 26 s 15

40Commissioner consent for grant of blue light vehicle standards exemption

(1)The Regulator may, under the Law, grant a blue light vehicle standards exemption only with the consent of the commissioner.
(2)The Regulator must ask the commissioner for the consent.
(3)The commissioner must decide to give or not to give the consent within 28 days after the request is made.
(4)The commissioner may decide to give the consent only if the commissioner is satisfied that the blue light vehicle standards exemption will not, or is not likely to, adversely affect public safety.
(5)Without limiting subsection (4), the commissioner must be satisfied that the exemption will not, or is not likely to, operate to reduce the effectiveness of using blue lights to clearly identify to other road users vehicles being used for law enforcement or for an emergency.
(6)Also, in deciding whether or not to give the consent, the commissioner must have regard to the approved guidelines for granting vehicle standards exemptions.
(7)The commissioner may decide to consent to the grant of a blue light vehicle standards exemption subject to a condition that a stated public safety condition is imposed on the exemption.
(8)If the commissioner decides to consent in a way mentioned in subsection (7), the Regulator must impose the public safety condition on the exemption.
(9)Section 26 applies to a blue light vehicle standards exemption (notice) as if the exemption were a mass or dimension exemption (notice) for which the commissioner’s consent was given.
(10)Section 27, other than section 27(5)(b) and (c), applies to a blue light vehicle standards exemption (permit) as if the exemption were a mass or dimension exemption (permit) for which the commissioner’s consent was given.
(11)This section applies in relation to a blue light whether or not it is a light that flashes.
(12)In this section—
blue light vehicle standards exemption means—
(a)a blue light vehicle standards exemption (notice); or
(b)a blue light vehicle standards exemption (permit).
blue light vehicle standards exemption (notice) means a vehicle standards exemption (notice) that permits heavy vehicles of the category the subject of the exemption to be fitted with a blue light.
blue light vehicle standards exemption (permit) means a vehicle standards exemption (permit) that permits the heavy vehicle the subject of the exemption to be fitted with a blue light.

s 40 ins 2013 No. 26 s 15

41Commissioner permission for fitting of blue light if vehicle standards exemption is not required

(1)This section applies to a heavy vehicle, other than a police vehicle, that under the heavy vehicle standards may be fitted with a blue light.
(2)The heavy vehicle standards are taken to further provide that the heavy vehicle may be fitted with a blue light only if the commissioner has given written permission for the fitting of the light.
(3)A written permission for the fitting with a blue light of a heavy vehicle to which this section applies, given by the commissioner before the commencement of this section and still in force immediately before the commencement, is taken to be a written permission for the fitting of the light given under subsection (2).
(4)This section applies in relation to a blue light whether or not it is a light that flashes.
(5)In this section—
police vehicle means a heavy vehicle driven by a police officer in the course of the police officer’s duty.

s 41 ins 2013 No. 26 s 15

42Provision of information and assistance by Queensland information holder

(1)Despite any other Act or law, a Queensland information holder is authorised, on the Queensland information holder’s own initiative or at the request of the Regulator—
(a)to provide the Regulator with information (including personal information and information given in confidence) held by the department and reasonably required by the Regulator for administering the Law; and
(b)to provide the Regulator with other assistance reasonably required by the Regulator to exercise a function under the Law.
(2)To remove any doubt, it is declared that information given to the Regulator as authorised under subsection (1) is taken to be information obtained in the course of administering the Law, as mentioned in section 727(1), definition protected information, paragraph (a) of the Law.
(3)This section does not limit section 660 of the Law.
(4)Nothing done, or authorised to be done, by a Queensland information holder in acting under subsection (1)—
(a)constitutes a breach of, or default under, an Act or other law; or
(b)constitutes a breach of, or default under, a contract, agreement, understanding or undertaking; or
(c)constitutes a breach of a duty of confidence (whether arising by contract, in equity or by custom or in any other way); or
(d)constitutes a civil or criminal wrong; or
(e)terminates an agreement or obligation, or fulfils any condition that allows a person to terminate an agreement or obligation, or gives rise to any other right or remedy; or
(f)releases a surety or any other obligee wholly or in part from an obligation.
(5)In this section—
Queensland information holder means—
(a)the chief executive; or
(b)an officer or employee of the department who has access to information held by the department in the ordinary course of performing duties in the department.

s 42 ins 2013 No. 26 s 15

42AAuthorisation for s 688 of the Law (Payments into Fund)

(1)For section 688(1)(e) of the Law, an amount equal to the regulatory component of the charges payable for the registration of heavy vehicles is to be paid into the Fund.
(2)In this section—
regulatory component, of the charges payable for the registration of heavy vehicles, means the component of the charges prescribed under TORUM as the regulatory component of the charges.

s 42A ins 2018 No. 10 s 9

Part 4A Other modifications of National Law

pt hdg ins 2018 No. 10 s 10

42BMeaning of National Law

In this part—
National Law means the Heavy Vehicle National Law set out in the Schedule.

s 42B ins 2018 No. 10 s 10

42COperation of pt 4A

This part states other modifications of the National Law for the purpose of applying the Law as a law of this jurisdiction under section 4.

s 42C ins 2018 No. 10 s 10

42DAmendment of s 598 (Power to cancel or suspend vehicle registration)

National Law, s 598(2)—

omit, insert

(2)The court may make an order that the registration of a heavy vehicle in relation to which the offence was committed and of which the person is a registered operator is cancelled.

Editor’s note—

This subsection is a substituted Queensland provision.

s 42D ins 2018 No. 10 s 10

42EAmendment of s 707 (Proceedings for offences)

(1)National Law, section 707—
insert—
(3A)A complaint for a fatigue management offence may be heard at a place appointed for holding Magistrates Courts within the district within which the defendant was required to produce the defendant’s work diary under section 568.

Editor’s note—

This subsection is an additional Queensland provision.
(3B)Subsection (3A) has effect despite, but does not limit, the Justices Act 1886, section 139.

Editor’s note—

This subsection is an additional Queensland provision.
(2)National Law, section 707(4)—
insert—
fatigue management offence means an offence against any of the following provisions—
(a)section 250;
(b)section 251;
(c)section 254;
(d)section 256;
(e)section 258;
(f)part 6.4.

Editor’s note—

This definition is an additional Queensland provision.

s 42E ins 2018 No. 18 s 4

Part 5 Miscellaneous

pt hdg ins 2013 No. 4 s 11

43Regulation-making power

(1)The Governor in Council may make regulations under the local application provisions of this Act.
(2)A regulation may modify the application of a national regulation in Queensland.

s 43 (prev s 37) ins 2013 No. 4 s 11

renum 2013 No. 26 s 14

amd 2013 No. 26 s 16

43AFees payable under Heavy Vehicle National Law (Queensland)

(1)This section provides for the fee payable for a matter under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (Queensland) if a provision of the Law refers to a fee that is or may be payable under a law of this jurisdiction for the matter.
(2)The fee payable for the matter, if any, is the amount prescribed under a regulation for the matter.

s 43A ins 2017 No. 25 s 41

Part 6 Savings and transitional provisions

pt hdg ins 2013 No. 4 s 11

Division 1 The Regulator

div hdg ins 2013 No. 26 s 17

44Savings provision for Regulator

(1)This section has effect for the purposes of—
(a)the commencement, on 12 October 2012, of Chapters 12 and 14 of the original HVNL(Q); and
(b)the commencement, after 12 October 2012, of Chapter 12 and Part 14.1 of the new HVNL(Q).
(2)Anything done under Chapter 12 or 14 of the original HVNL(Q) and still in effect immediately before the relevant commencement continues to have effect after the relevant commencement and may, if the circumstances permit, be taken to have been done under Chapter 12 or Part 14.1 of the new HVNL(Q).
(3)Without limiting subsection (2), the following things continue to have effect after the relevant commencement—
(a)establishment of the Regulator under the original HVNL(Q);
(b)appointment of members of the Board as in office immediately before the relevant commencement;
(c)appointment of the chief executive officer by the Board;
(d)decisions of the Board still in force immediately before the relevant commencement;
(e)actions taken by the Regulator still in effect immediately before the relevant commencement;
(f)agreements entered into by the Regulator and still in force immediately before the relevant commencement.
(4)In this section—
new HVNL(Q) means the Heavy Vehicle National Law (Queensland) as at the commencement of this section.
original HVNL(Q) means the Heavy Vehicle National Law (Queensland) as at 12 October 2012.
relevant commencement means the commencement of Chapter 12 of the new HVNL(Q).

s 44 (prev s 38) ins 2013 No. 4 s 11

renum 2013 No. 26 s 14

Division 2 Operation of general savings and transitional provision

div hdg ins 2013 No. 26 s 18

45Definitions for div 2

In this division—
commencement means the commencement of this division.
general savings and transitional provision means section 748 of the Law.

s 45 ins 2013 No. 26 s 18

46Operation of general savings and transitional provision

This division does not affect the operation of the general savings and transitional provision except to the extent expressly provided for.

s 46 ins 2013 No. 26 s 18

47Investigation and enforcement for offences committed before commencement

(1)To remove any doubt, it is declared that the general savings and transitional provision does not affect the operation of the Acts Interpretation Act 1954, section 20 in relation to a relevant offence.
(2)A transport Act, as in force before the commencement, continues to apply for the purposes of a relevant offence—
(a)as if the Law was not in force; and
(b)if the transport Act was amended on the commencement—as if the transport Act had not been amended on the commencement.

Example—

In the investigation of a relevant offence, an embargo notice is issued, before the commencement, under section 46B of TORUM. A breach of the embargo notice after the commencement would be dealt with as an offence under TORUM as in force before the commencement.
(3)Without limiting subsections (1) and (2)—
(a)a transport Act, as in force before the commencement, continues to have effect for all matters arising, whether before or after the commencement—
(i)in the investigation of the relevant offence; or
(ii)in the enforcement of any transport Act in relation to the relevant offence; and
(b)a proceeding for the relevant offence or an associated offence may be started under a transport Act as in force before the commencement; and
(c)the State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999, as in force before the commencement, applies to the relevant offence and any associated offence.

Examples—

1In the investigation of a relevant offence, an embargo notice could be issued, after the commencement, under section 46B of TORUM. A subsequent breach of the embargo notice would be dealt with as an offence under TORUM as in force before the commencement.
2A provision of TORUM that is repealed on the commencement, but that was in force before the commencement as an aid to the giving of evidence, would continue to apply, or could be applied, for a proceeding for an offence against a transport Act alleged to have been committed before the commencement.
(4)Section 748(5) of the Law applies to a relevant prosecution as if it were a prosecution referred to in section 748(3)(c) of the Law.
(5)In this section—
associated offence means any offence arising out of any investigation or enforcement as mentioned in subsection (3)(a).
relevant offence means an offence committed or suspected to have been committed under a transport Act before the commencement.
relevant prosecution means the prosecution of—
(a)a relevant offence; and
(b)any other offence that, under this section, is dealt with as an offence under a transport Act.

s 47 ins 2013 No. 26 s 18

48Particular orders continue to have effect under TORUM after commencement

(1)The general savings and transitional provision does not apply to a TORUM order or VSS notice.
(2)TORUM, as in force before the commencement, continues to apply for the purposes of a TORUM order as if—
(a)the Law was not in force; and
(b)TORUM had not been amended on the commencement.

Example—

Before the commencement, a court made a supervisory intervention order under section 164B of TORUM, requiring a person to give a compliance report to the chief executive, as mentioned in section 164C of TORUM, by a stated time that is after the commencement. A failure to give the report by the stated time would be dealt with as an offence under section 164E of TORUM even though sections 164B and 164E are repealed on the commencement.
(3)TORUM, including the VSS regulation, as in force immediately before the commencement, continues to apply for the purposes of a VSS notice as if—
(a)the Law was not in force; and
(b)TORUM, including the VSS regulation, had not been amended on the commencement.
(4)Without limiting subsections (2) and (3)—
(a)TORUM, including the VSS regulation, as in force before the commencement, continues to have effect for all matters arising after the commencement—
(i)in the investigation of a relevant offence; or
(ii)in the enforcement of TORUM, including the VSS regulation, in relation to a relevant offence; and
(b)a proceeding for a relevant offence may be started under TORUM as in force before the commencement; and
(c)the State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999, as in force before the commencement, continues to have effect in relation to a relevant offence.
(5)Section 748(5) of the Law applies to the prosecution of a relevant offence as if it were a prosecution referred to in section 748(3)(c) of the Law.
(6)In this section—
relevant offence means an offence committed after the commencement relating to noncompliance with a TORUM order or VSS notice.
TORUM order means a requirement, direction, authorisation, notice or order if—
(a)it was made or given under a TORUM order provision before the commencement; and
(b)it applied to a vehicle that, on the commencement, becomes a heavy vehicle under the Law; and
(c)immediately before the commencement it was still in force to require a person to do or not to do something.
TORUM order provision means any of the following provisions of TORUM as in force before the commencement—
(a)section 36;
(b)section 37(1);
(c)section 38(2);
(d)section 39E(2) or (4);
(e)section 39F(2);
(f)section 39G(2);
(g)section 39K(2) or (3);
(h)section 39L(2) or (3);
(i)section 39M(2);
(j)section 39N(2);
(k)section 39Q(2);
(l)section 164B.
VSS notice means a defect notice given under section 8(2) of the VSS regulation if—
(a)it was given before the commencement; and
(b)it applied to a vehicle that, on the commencement, becomes a heavy vehicle under the Law; and
(c)immediately before the commencement it was still in force to require a person to do or not to do something.
VSS regulation means the Transport Operations (Road Use Management—Vehicle Standards and Safety) Regulation 2010 of Queensland.

s 48 ins 2013 No. 26 s 18

49Continuation of work diary exemption

(1)A relevant exemption continues in force under the Law to the greatest practicable extent as if it were a work diary exemption (permit) under the Law.
(2)However, for applying the Law to it, the relevant exemption—
(a)is not, and can not be made, the subject of a standard hours condition; and
(b)can not, when subsection (1) commences to have effect in relation to it, be made subject to any other conditions as mentioned in section 366(2) of the Law; and
(c)except to the extent it is amended or cancelled under section 370, 371 or 372 of the Law, continues in force until it would have expired if the Law had not been enacted.
(3)This section does not limit the application of the general savings and transitional provision to a work diary exemption under the fatigue regulation that is not a relevant exemption.
(4)In this section—
fatigue regulation means the Transport Operations (Road Use Management—Fatigue Management) Regulation 2008 of Queensland.
relevant exemption means a work diary exemption under the fatigue regulation if the exemption—
(a)was granted on the basis of the chief executive’s satisfaction under section 158(3)(a) of the fatigue regulation; and
(b)was in force immediately before the commencement of this section.
standard hours condition means a condition as mentioned in section 366(1) of the Law.

s 49 ins 2013 No. 26 s 18

50Declaratory regulation-making power for general savings and transitional provision

(1)A regulation (a declaratory regulation) may make provision of a declaratory nature, as provided for in subsection (2), in relation to the operation of the general savings and transitional provision.
(2)A declaratory regulation may in relation to a particular thing done under the former legislation before the commencement—
(a)declare that the general savings and transitional provision applies to it; or
(b)declare how the general savings and transitional provision applies to it.
(3)A declaratory regulation has effect according to its terms.
(4)The operation of the general savings and transitional provision is not limited by the making of a declaratory regulation other than to the extent provided for in the declaratory regulation.
(5)The transitional regulation-making power as provided for in division 3 does not apply to a declaratory regulation lawfully made under this section even if, apart from this section, the declaratory regulation could be made as a transitional regulation.
(6)A declaratory regulation may not have retrospective operation.
(7)If a declaratory regulation commences after the commencement, it does not affect the operation of the general savings and transitional provision in a way that disadvantages a person by—
(a)decreasing the person’s rights; or
(b)imposing liabilities on the person.
(8)A declaratory regulation must declare it is a declaratory regulation.

s 50 ins 2013 No. 26 s 18

Division 3 General transitional matters

div hdg ins 2013 No. 26 s 18

51[Repealed]

s 51 ins 2013 No. 26 s 18

exp 10 February 2016 (see s 51(6))

52References in documents to repealed or amended provisions

(1)This section applies to a document if—
(a)there is a reference in the document to a provision (the affected provision) of TORUM as in force before the commencement of this section; and
(b)the affected provision is repealed or amended on the commencement of this section having regard to the commencement of the Law.
(2)The reference may, if the context permits, be taken to be a reference to a provision of the Law corresponding to the affected provision.
(3)In this section—
document does not include an Act.

s 52 ins 2013 No. 26 s 18

Division 4 [Repealed]

div hdg ins 2013 No. 26 s 18

om 2018 No. 10 s 11

53[Repealed]

s 53 ins 2013 No. 26 s 18

om 2018 No. 10 s 11

54[Repealed]

s 54 ins 2013 No. 26 s 18

om 2018 No. 10 s 11

55[Repealed]

s 55 ins 2013 No. 26 s 18

om 2018 No. 10 s 11

56[Repealed]

s 56 ins 2013 No. 26 s 18

om 2018 No. 10 s 11

57[Repealed]

s 57 ins 2013 No. 26 s 18

om 2018 No. 10 s 11

58[Repealed]

s 58 ins 2013 No. 26 s 18

om 2018 No. 10 s 11

59[Repealed]

s 59 ins 2013 No. 26 s 18

om 2018 No. 10 s 11

60[Repealed]

s 60 ins 2013 No. 26 s 18

om 2018 No. 10 s 11

61[Repealed]

s 61 ins 2013 No. 26 s 18

om 2018 No. 10 s 11

62[Repealed]

s 62 ins 2013 No. 26 s 18

om 2018 No. 10 s 11

63[Repealed]

s 63 ins 2013 No. 26 s 18

om 2018 No. 10 s 11

Schedule Heavy Vehicle National Law

section 4

sch hdg sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

Chapter 1 Preliminary

ch hdg sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

Part 1.1 Introductory matters

pt hdg sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

1Short title

This Law may be cited as the Heavy Vehicle National Law.

s 1 sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

2Commencement

This Law commences in a participating jurisdiction as provided by the Act of that jurisdiction that applies this Law as a law of that jurisdiction.

s 2 sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

3Object of Law

The object of this Law is to establish a national scheme for facilitating and regulating the use of heavy vehicles on roads in a way that—
(a)promotes public safety; and
(b)manages the impact of heavy vehicles on the environment, road infrastructure and public amenity; and
(c)promotes industry productivity and efficiency in the road transport of goods and passengers by heavy vehicles; and
(d)encourages and promotes productive, efficient, innovative and safe business practices.

s 3 sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

4Regulatory framework to achieve object

The object of this Law is to be achieved by a regulatory framework that—
(a)establishes an entity (the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator) with functions directed at ensuring the object is achieved; and
(b)provides for a database of heavy vehicles; and
(c)prescribes requirements about the following—
(i)the standards heavy vehicles must meet when on roads;
(ii)the maximum permissible mass and dimensions of heavy vehicles used on roads;
(iii)securing and restraining loads on heavy vehicles used on roads;
(iv)preventing drivers of heavy vehicles exceeding speed limits;
(v)preventing drivers of heavy vehicles from driving while fatigued; and
(d)imposes duties and obligations directed at ensuring heavy vehicles and drivers of heavy vehicles comply with requirements mentioned in paragraph (c)(i) to (v) on persons whose activities may influence whether the vehicles or drivers comply with the requirements; and
(e)includes measures directed at the matters mentioned in section 3(c) and (d) by allowing improved access to roads in certain circumstances, including by—
(i)allowing heavy vehicles, that would otherwise be prevented from being used on roads, access to the roads through exemptions or authorisations granted in circumstances in which the matters mentioned in section 3(a) and (b) will not be compromised; and
(ii)providing for accreditation schemes allowing operators of heavy vehicles who adopt best practices directed at the matters mentioned in section 3 to be subject to alternative requirements more suited to the operators’ business operations.

s 4 sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

amd 2018 No. 10 s 13

Part 1.2 Interpretation

pt hdg sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

5Definitions

In this Law—
100km work, for the purposes of Chapter 6, has the meaning given by section 289(1).

def 100km work sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

100+km work, for the purposes of Chapter 6, has the meaning given by section 289(2).

def 100+km work sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

accreditation certificate means—
(a)for a heavy vehicle accreditation granted under this Law—the accreditation certificate given for the accreditation under section 464; or
(b)for a heavy vehicle accreditation granted under another law of a participating jurisdiction—the certificate of accreditation (however called) issued for the accreditation under that law.

def accreditation certificate sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

ADR means a national standard under section 7 of the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 of the Commonwealth.

def ADR sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

AFM accreditation means—
(a)AFM accreditation granted under section 458; or
(b)accreditation of a similar kind under another law of a participating jurisdiction.

def AFM accreditation sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

amd 2015 No. 12 s 4(1)

AFM fatigue management system, for the purposes of Chapters 6 and 8, has the meaning given by section 457.

def AFM fatigue management system sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

AFM hours, for the purposes of Chapters 6 and 8, has the meaning given by section 257.

def AFM hours sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

AFM standards and business rules, for the purposes of Chapter 8, has the meaning given by section 457.

def AFM standards and business rules sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

agricultural implement means a vehicle without its own automotive power, built to perform agricultural tasks, and includes an agricultural trailer.

Examples—

auger
conveyor
field bin
harvester front
irrigating equipment or machinery

def agricultural implement sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

agricultural machine means a vehicle with its own automotive power, built to perform agricultural tasks.

Examples—

harvester, tractor

def agricultural machine sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

agricultural task means a task carried out in agriculture.

Examples of an agricultural task—

cultivating land
growing and harvesting crops
rearing livestock

def agricultural task sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

agricultural trailer means a trailer that is designed to carry a load and used exclusively to perform agricultural tasks, but does not include a semitrailer.

def agricultural trailer ins 2013 No. 4 s 12

agricultural vehicle means an agricultural implement or agricultural machine.

def agricultural vehicle sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

Application Act, of this jurisdiction, means the Act of this jurisdiction by which this Law applies as a law of this jurisdiction.

def Application Act ins 2013 No. 4 s 12

appropriately qualified, for a function, includes having the qualifications, experience or standing appropriate to exercise the function.

Example of standing—

a person’s classification level or position in the public service or a government agency of a participating jurisdiction

def appropriately qualified sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

approved, by the responsible Ministers, for the purposes of Chapter 8, has the meaning given by section 457.

def approved sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

approved auditor, for the purposes of Chapter 8, has the meaning given by section 457.

def approved auditor sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

approved electronic recording system has the meaning given by section 221.

def approved electronic recording system sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

approved form means a form approved by the Regulator under section 735.

def approved form sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

approved guidelines means guidelines approved by the responsible Ministers under section 653.

def approved guidelines sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

approved intelligent transport system has the meaning given by section 403.

def approved intelligent transport system sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

approved sleeper berth, for the purposes of Chapter 6, has the meaning given by section 221.

def approved sleeper berth sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

approved vehicle examiner means a person approved as a vehicle examiner under the national regulations (as referred to in section 731).

def approved vehicle examiner ins 2013 No. 4 s 12

articulated bus means a bus with 2 or more rigid sections connected to one another in a way that allows—
(a)passenger access between the sections; and
(b)rotary movement between the sections.

def articulated bus sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

AS means an Australian standard made or published by Standards Australia.

def AS sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

associate, of a person, means—
(a)if the person is an individual—
(i)the individual’s spouse or de facto partner; or
(ii)a relative of the individual, whether by blood, spousal relationship or adoption; or
(iii)an employee of the individual; or
(iv)an employee of a corporation of which the individual is an executive officer; or
(v)a partner of the individual; or
(vi)a corporation of which the individual is an executive officer; or
(vii)a corporation in which the individual holds a controlling interest; or
(viii)a person who is a trustee of a trust of which the individual is a trustee or beneficiary; or
(ix)a person who is a beneficiary of a trust of which the individual is a trustee or beneficiary; or
(x)a person who is accustomed or under an obligation, whether formal or informal, to act in accordance with the directions, instructions or wishes of the individual; or
(xi)a person who is an associate of someone who is an associate of the individual; or
(b)if the person is a corporation—
(i)an executive officer of the corporation; or
(ii)an associate of an executive officer of the corporation; or
(iii)an employee of the corporation; or
(iv)a person who holds a controlling interest in the corporation; or
(v)a related body corporate, within the meaning of the Corporations Act 2001 of the Commonwealth, of the corporation; or
(vi)a person who is an associate of someone who is an associate of the corporation.

def associate sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

ATM (aggregate trailer mass), of a heavy trailer, means the total maximum mass of the trailer, as stated by the manufacturer, together with its load and the mass imposed on the towing vehicle by the trailer when the towing vehicle and trailer are on a horizontal surface.

def ATM ins 2013 No. 4 s 12

Australian Accounting Standards means Accounting Standards issued by the Australian Accounting Standards Board.

def Australian Accounting Standards sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

Australian road law means—
(a)this Law; or
(b)another law of a State or Territory that regulates the use of vehicles on roads.

def Australian road law sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

authorised officer means—
(a)a police officer declared by a law of a participating jurisdiction to be an authorised officer for the purposes of this Law; or
(b)a person who holds office under this Law as an authorised officer.

def authorised officer sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

authorised use, for the purposes of Part 13.4, has the meaning given by section 727.

def authorised use sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

authorised warrant official, for a participating jurisdiction, means an entity that is declared by a law of that jurisdiction to be an authorised warrant official for that jurisdiction for the purposes of this Law.

def authorised warrant official sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

axle means 1 or more shafts positioned in a line across a vehicle, on which 1 or more wheels intended to support the vehicle turn.

def axle sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

axle group means a tandem axle group, twinsteer axle group, tri-axle group or quad-axle group.

def axle group sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

base, of the driver of a heavy vehicle—
1
The base of the driver of a heavy vehicle, in relation to particular work—
(a)is the place from which the driver normally does the work; but
(b)is, for the purposes of Chapter 6, the garage address of the vehicle if—
(i)the vehicle is a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle; and
(ii)the driver is required under Part 6.4, in relation to that particular work, to keep a work diary and to record the location of the driver’s base in the work diary, and has not done so.

Note—

The driver of a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle may not be required under Part 6.4, in relation to particular work, to keep a work diary and to record the location of the driver’s base in the work diary, if, for example—

the driver is undertaking 100km work under standard hours
the driver is working under a work diary exemption

2For a driver who is a self-employed driver and an employed driver at different times, the driver may have one base as a self-employed driver under paragraph 1 and another base as an employed driver under that paragraph.
3For a driver who has 2 or more employers, the driver may have a different base in relation to each employer under paragraph 1.

def base sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

B-double means a combination consisting of a prime mover towing 2 semitrailers, with the first semitrailer being attached directly to the prime mover by a fifth wheel coupling and the second semitrailer being mounted on the rear of the first semitrailer by a fifth wheel coupling on the first semitrailer.

graphic image

Typical B-double

def B-double sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

B-triple means a combination consisting of a prime mover towing 3 semitrailers, with—
(a)the first semitrailer being attached directly to the prime mover by a fifth wheel coupling; and
(b)the second semitrailer being mounted on the rear of the first semitrailer by a fifth wheel coupling on the first semitrailer; and
(c)the third semitrailer being mounted on the rear of the second semitrailer by a fifth wheel coupling on the second semitrailer.

graphic image

Typical B-triple

def B-triple ins 2015 No. 12 s 4(2)

BFM accreditation means—
(a)BFM accreditation granted under section 458; or
(b)accreditation of a similar kind under another law of a participating jurisdiction.

def BFM accreditation sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

amd 2015 No. 12 s 4(3)

BFM fatigue management system, for the purposes of Chapter 8, has the meaning given by section 457.

def BFM fatigue management system sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

BFM hours, for the purposes of Chapters 6 and 8, has the meaning given by section 253.

def BFM hours sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

BFM standards and business rules, for the purposes of Chapter 8, has the meaning given by section 457.

def BFM standards and business rules sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

Board means the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator Board established under section 662.

def Board sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

body of fatigue knowledge means any accreditation scheme, scientific knowledge, expert opinion, guidelines, standards or other knowledge about preventing or managing exposure to risks to safety either on a road or in a workplace, arising from fatigue.

def body of fatigue knowledge sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

bus means a heavy motor vehicle built or fitted to carry more than 9 adults (including the driver).

def bus sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

business practices, of a person, means the person’s practices in running a business associated with the use of a heavy vehicle on a road, including—
(a)the operating policies and procedures of the business; and
(b)the human resource and contract management arrangements of the business; and
(c)the arrangements for preventing or minimising public risks associated with the person’s practices.

def business practices ins 2016 No. 65 s 7(2)

cancel, for the purposes of Chapter 6 in relation to an unused daily sheet in a written work diary, has the meaning given by section 221.

def cancel sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

category, of heavy vehicles, see section 15.

def category ins 2013 No. 4 s 12

cause, a thing, includes—
(a)contribute to causing the thing; and
(b)encourage the thing.

def cause sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

cause of fatigue ...

def cause of fatigue om 2013 No. 4 s 12

centre-line, of an axle, means—
(a)for an axle consisting of 1 shaft—a line parallel to the length of the axle and passing through its centre; and
(b)for an axle consisting of 2 shafts—a line in the vertical plane passing through—
(i)the centre of both shafts; and
(ii)the centres of the wheels on the shafts.

def centre-line sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

class 1 heavy vehicle has the meaning given by section 116(1) and (2).

def class 1 heavy vehicle sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

class 2 heavy vehicle has the meaning given by section 136.

def class 2 heavy vehicle sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation means—
(a)a class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (notice); or
(b)a class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (permit).

def class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (notice) has the meaning given by section 138(2).

def class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (notice) sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (permit) has the meaning given by section 143(2).

def class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (permit) sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

class 3 heavy vehicle has the meaning given by section 116(3).

def class 3 heavy vehicle sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

combination means a group of vehicles consisting of a motor vehicle towing 1 or more other vehicles.

def combination sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

commercial consignor ...

def commercial consignor sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

om 2016 No. 65 s 7(1)

Commonwealth Gazette means the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette.

def Commonwealth Gazette sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

Commonwealth Gazette notice means notice published in the Commonwealth Gazette.

def Commonwealth Gazette notice sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

Commonwealth responsible Minister means the Commonwealth Minister nominated by the Commonwealth as the responsible Minister for the Commonwealth for the purposes of this Law.

def Commonwealth responsible Minister sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

compensation order has the meaning given by section 611(1).

def compensation order sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

complaint, for an offence, means a complaint, charge, notice or other process that starts a proceeding for the offence.

def complaint ins 2016 No. 65 s 7(2)

compliance purposes means—
(a)monitoring purposes; or
(b)investigation purposes.

def compliance purposes sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

complying container weight declaration has the meaning given by section 189.

def complying container weight declaration sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

component, of a heavy vehicle that is a combination, means—
(a)other than in Part 3.3, a component vehicle of the combination; or
(b)a component of any component vehicle of the combination.

def component sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

amd 2015 No. 12 s 4(4)

component vehicle, of a heavy combination, means the towing vehicle or another vehicle in the combination.

def component vehicle sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

condition includes a restriction.

def condition ins 2013 No. 4 s 12

conditionally registered ...

def conditionally registered sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

om 2018 No. 10 s 14(1)

conduct means an act, an omission to perform an act, or a state of affairs.

def conduct ins 2013 No. 4 s 12

consent includes an approval or concurrence.

def consent ins 2013 No. 4 s 12

consign and consignor
A person consigns goods, and is a consignor of goods, for road transport using a heavy vehicle, if—
(a)the person has consented to being, and is, named or otherwise identified as a consignor of the goods in the transport documentation relating to the road transport of the goods; or
(b)the person engages an operator of the vehicle, either directly or indirectly or through an agent or other intermediary, to transport the goods by road; or
(c)if paragraphs (a) and (b) do not apply—the person has possession of, or control over, the goods immediately before the goods are transported by road.

def consign and consignor sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

amd 2016 No. 65 s 7(3)

consignee, of goods—
(a)means a person who—
(i)has consented to being, and is, named or otherwise identified as the intended consignee of the goods in the transport documentation relating to the road transport of the goods; or
(ii)actually receives the goods after completion of their road transport; but
(b)does not include a person who merely unloads the goods.

def consignee sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

container weight declaration
(a)means a written declaration, whether contained in 1 or more documents, stating or purporting to state the weight of a freight container and its contents; and

Examples—

an email, a placard fixed to the container

Note—

See the definition document in section 12 of Schedule 1.

(b)includes a copy of a declaration mentioned in paragraph (a).

def container weight declaration sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

amd 2018 No. 18 s 6(3)

contract includes an agreement.

def contract ins 2016 No. 65 s 7(2)

converter dolly means a pig trailer with a fifth wheel coupling designed to convert a semitrailer into a dog trailer.

graphic image

Typical converter dolly

def converter dolly sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

convict, a person of an offence, has the meaning given by section 9(1).

def convict sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

convicted, of an offence, has the meaning given by section 9(2).

def convicted sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

convicted person
(a)for the purposes of Division 5 of Part 10.3, has the meaning given by section 599(a); or
(b)for the purposes of Division 6 of Part 10.3, has the meaning given by section 606(a).

def convicted person sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

corporation includes a body politic or corporate.

def corporation sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

corresponding fatigue law, for the purposes of Chapter 6, has the meaning given by section 221.

def corresponding fatigue law sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

critical risk breach, for a maximum work requirement or minimum rest requirement, has the meaning given by section 222(4).

def critical risk breach sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

daily sheet, for a written work diary, for the purposes of Chapter 6, has the meaning given by section 338(2)(b).

def daily sheet sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

database of heavy vehicles means the database of heavy vehicles kept under section 686A.

def database of heavy vehicles ins 2018 No. 10 s 14(2)

daytime means the period of a day between sunrise and sunset.

def daytime sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

de facto partner, of a person, means a person (whether of the same gender or a different gender) who is in a de facto relationship, within the meaning given by section 2F of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 of the Commonwealth, with the person.

def de facto partner sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

defective heavy vehicle, for the purposes of Division 6 of Part 9.3, has the meaning given by section 525.

def defective heavy vehicle sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

defective vehicle label, for the purposes of Division 6 of Part 9.3, has the meaning given by section 525.

def defective vehicle label sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

defendant, for a proceeding for an offence, means the person charged with the offence (whether called the defendant or the accused).

def defendant sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

deficiency, for the purposes of Division 3 of Part 10.4, has the meaning given by section 626.

def deficiency sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

dimension requirement means—
(a)a prescribed dimension requirement (under section 101); or
(b)a requirement as to a dimension limit relating to a heavy vehicle under a condition to which a mass or dimension authority is subject (where the dimension limit is more restrictive than the relevant prescribed dimension requirement); or
(c)a requirement as to a dimension limit under a PBS vehicle approval; or
(d)a requirement as to a dimension limit indicated by an official traffic sign; or

Note—

See the definitions indicated and official traffic sign.

(e)a requirement as to a dimension limit for a component vehicle as prescribed by a heavy vehicle standard.

def dimension requirement ins 2013 No. 4 s 12

dimension requirements ...

def dimension requirements om 2013 No. 4 s 12

drive, a vehicle or combination, includes—
(a)be in control of the steering, movement or propulsion of the vehicle or combination; and
(b)for a trailer—drive a vehicle towing the trailer.

def drive sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

driver, of a vehicle or combination—
(a)means the person driving the vehicle or combination; and
(b)includes—
(i)a person accompanying the person driving the vehicle or combination on a journey or part of a journey, who has been, is or will be sharing the task of driving the vehicle or combination during the journey or part; and
(ii)a person who is driving the vehicle or combination as a driver under instruction or under an appropriate learner licence or learner permit; and
(iii)where the driver is a driver under instruction, the holder of a driver licence occupying the seat in the vehicle or combination next to the driver.

def driver sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

driver fatigue compliance function, for the purposes of Part 13.4, has the meaning given by section 727(1).

def driver fatigue compliance function ins 2015 No. 12 s 4(5)

driver fatigue provision, for the purposes of Part 13.4, has the meaning given by section 727(1).

def driver fatigue provision ins 2015 No. 12 s 4(5)

driver licence means—
(a)a driver licence issued under a law of a State or Territory that regulates the use of vehicles on roads; or
(b)a licence, permit or other authorisation to drive a motor vehicle issued under a law of another country if a law mentioned in paragraph (a) exempts the holder of the licence, permit or other authorisation from the requirement to hold a driver licence under that law to drive a motor vehicle.

def driver licence sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

electronic recording system has the meaning given by section 221.

def electronic recording system sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

electronic recording system approval means an approval of an electronic recording system under Division 7 of Part 6.4.

def electronic recording system approval sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

electronic work diary has the meaning given by section 221.

def electronic work diary sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

electronic work diary authorised use, for the purposes of Part 13.4, has the meaning given by section 727(1).

def electronic work diary authorised use ins 2015 No. 12 s 4(7)

electronic work diary information, for the purposes of Part 13.4, has the meaning given by section 727(1).

def electronic work diary information ins 2015 No. 12 s 4(7)

electronic work diary label ...

def electronic work diary label sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

om 2015 No. 12 s 4(6)

electronic work diary protected information, for the purposes of Part 13.4, has the meaning given by section 727(1).

def electronic work diary protected information ins 2015 No. 12 s 4(7)

embargo notice has the meaning given by section 557(2).

def embargo notice sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

embargoed thing means a thing the subject of an embargo notice.

def embargoed thing sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

employed driver, of a heavy vehicle, means a person who is employed by someone else to drive the vehicle.

def employed driver sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

employee means an individual who is employed by someone else.

def employee sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

employer means a person who employs someone else.

def employer sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

encourage includes give an incentive.

def encourage ins 2016 No. 65 s 7(2)

engage ...

def engage om 2013 No. 4 s 12

entity includes a person, an unincorporated partnership and an unincorporated body.

def entity sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

amd 2016 No. 65 s 7(4)

entry, in a work record, for the purposes of Chapter 6, has the meaning given by section 221.

def entry sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

equipment, in relation to a heavy vehicle, includes tools, devices and accessories in the vehicle.

def equipment sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

escort vehicle means a pilot vehicle that is driven by a police officer or another person authorised to direct traffic under an Australian road law.

def escort vehicle sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

examine includes analyse, test, account, measure, weigh, grade, gauge or identify.

def examine sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

executive officer, of a corporation, means—
(a)a director of the corporation; or
(b)any person, by whatever name called and whether or not the person is a director of the corporation, who is concerned or takes part in the management of the corporation.

def executive officer sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

exemption hours, for the purposes of Chapter 6, has the meaning given by section 259.

def exemption hours sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

exercise, for a function, includes perform.

def exercise sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

extract, of a document, device or other thing, means a copy of any information contained in the document, device or other thing.

Note—

See the definition document in section 12 of Schedule 1.

def extract sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

amd 2018 No. 18 s 6(3)

false or misleading means false or misleading in a material particular.

def false or misleading ins 2016 No. 65 s 7(2)

fatigue has the meaning given by section 223.

def fatigue sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

fatigue record keeping exemption means—
(a)a fatigue record keeping exemption (notice); or
(b)a fatigue record keeping exemption (permit).

def fatigue record keeping exemption ins 2013 No. 4 s 12

fatigue record keeping exemption (notice) has the meaning given by section 378.

def fatigue record keeping exemption (notice) ins 2013 No. 4 s 12

fatigue record keeping exemption (permit) has the meaning given by section 383.

def fatigue record keeping exemption (permit) ins 2013 No. 4 s 12

fatigue-regulated bus means a heavy motor vehicle built or fitted to carry more than 12 adults (including the driver).

Note—

A fatigue-regulated bus is a bus that weighs more than 4.5t for the purposes of being regulated under this Law.

def fatigue-regulated bus sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle has the meaning given by section 7.

def fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

fifth wheel coupling means a device (other than an upper rotating element and a kingpin) used with a prime mover, semitrailer or converter dolly to—
(a)permit quick coupling and uncoupling; and
(b)provide for articulation.

def fifth wheel coupling sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

film, a thing, includes—
(a)photograph or videotape the thing; and
(b)record an image of the thing in another way.

def film sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

fit, to drive a heavy vehicle, or to start or stop its engine, for a person, means the person—
(a)is apparently physically and mentally fit to drive the vehicle, or start or stop its engine; and
(b)is not apparently affected by either or both of the following—
(i)alcohol;
(ii)a drug that affects a person’s ability to drive a vehicle; and
(c)is not found to have an alcohol concentration in the person’s blood or breath exceeding the amount permitted, under an Australian road law of this jurisdiction, for the driver of a heavy vehicle; and
(d)is not found to be under the influence of a drug or to have present in the person’s blood or saliva a drug that the driver of a heavy vehicle is not permitted to have present in the driver’s blood or saliva under an Australian road law of this jurisdiction.

def fit sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

freight container means—
(a)a re-usable container of the kind mentioned in AS 3711.1 that is designed for repeated use for transporting goods; or

Note—

AS 3711.1 may be purchased from Standards Australia at www.standards.org.au.
(b)a re-usable container of the same or a similar design and construction to a container mentioned in paragraph (a) though of different dimensions.

def freight container sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

Fund means the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator Fund established under section 687.

def Fund sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

garage address, of a heavy vehicle, means—
(a)for a heavy vehicle normally kept at a depot when not in use—the principal depot of the vehicle; or
(b)for a heavy vehicle not normally kept at a depot when not in use—the address of the place of business or residence at which the vehicle is normally kept when not in use.

def garage address sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

GCM (gross combination mass), of a motor vehicle, means the total maximum loaded mass of the motor vehicle and any vehicles it may lawfully tow at any given time—
(a)if the registration authority has specified the total maximum loaded mass of the motor vehicle and any vehicles it may lawfully tow at any given time—specified by the registration authority; or
(b)otherwise—stated by the motor vehicle’s manufacturer.

def GCM sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

amd 2018 No. 10 s 14(3)

goods
(a)includes—
(i)animals (whether alive or dead); and
(ii)a container (whether empty or not); but
(b)does not include—
(i)people; or
(ii)fuel, water, lubricants and readily removable equipment required for the normal use of the vehicle or combination in which they are carried; or
(iii)personal items used by the driver of the vehicle or combination, or someone else necessary for the normal use of the vehicle, in which they are carried.

def goods sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

GVM (gross vehicle mass), of a vehicle, means the maximum loaded mass of the vehicle—
(a)if the registration authority has specified the vehicle’s maximum loaded mass—specified by the registration authority; or
(b)otherwise—stated by the vehicle’s manufacturer.

def GVM sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

amd 2018 No. 10 s 14(4)

hauling unit means a motor vehicle that forms part of a combination, but does not include a prime mover.

def hauling unit ins 2013 No. 4 s 12

heavy combination means a combination that is a heavy vehicle.

def heavy combination sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

heavy motor vehicle means a motor vehicle that is a heavy vehicle.

def heavy motor vehicle sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

heavy trailer means a trailer that is a heavy vehicle.

def heavy trailer ins 2013 No. 4 s 12

heavy vehicle has the meaning given by section 6.

def heavy vehicle sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

heavy vehicle accreditation means—
(a)AFM accreditation; or
(b)BFM accreditation; or
(c)maintenance management accreditation; or
(d)mass management accreditation.

def heavy vehicle accreditation sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

heavy vehicle standards has the meaning given by section 59.

def heavy vehicle standards sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

higher mass limits, for the purposes of Chapter 7, has the meaning given by section 403.

def higher mass limits sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

HML authority, for the purposes of Chapter 7, has the meaning given by section 403.

def HML authority sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

home address means—
(a)for an individual—the individual’s residential address in Australia; or
(b)for a body corporate with a registered office in Australia—the address of the registered office; or
(c)for another person—the address of the person’s principal or only place of business in Australia.

def home address sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

identification details, for the purposes of Division 6 of Part 9.3, has the meaning given by section 525.

def identification details sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

identification plate means a plate authorised to be placed on a vehicle, or taken to have been placed on a vehicle, under the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 of the Commonwealth.

def identification plate sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

impaired by fatigue has the meaning given by section 225.

def impaired by fatigue sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

improvement notice has the meaning given by section 572(2).

def improvement notice sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

in, a vehicle, includes on the vehicle.

def in sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

indicated, by an official traffic sign, includes—
(a)indicated by way of a direction on an official traffic sign; and
(b)indicated by way of a direction, indication or requirement that, under a law, is prescribed as being given or imposed, because of an official traffic sign.

def indicated ins 2013 No. 4 s 12

indictable offence means an offence mentioned in section 26F.

def indictable offence ins 2016 No. 65 s 7(2)

information includes—
(a)information in the form of a printed document; and

Note—

See the definitions printed and document in section 12 of Schedule 1.

(b)information stored electronically.

def information ins 2016 No. 65 s 7(2)

amd 2018 No. 18 s 6(4)

information notice, for a decision, means a notice stating the following—
(a)the decision;
(b)the reasons for the decision;
(c)the review and appeal information for the decision.

def information notice sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

infringement notice means—
(a)an infringement notice issued under section 591; or
(b)an infringement notice, expiation notice, penalty notice or similar notice under the Infringement Notice Offences Law.

def infringement notice sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

Infringement Notice Offences Law, for a participating jurisdiction, means the law that is declared by a law of that jurisdiction to be the Infringement Notice Offences Law for the purposes of this Law.

def Infringement Notice Offences Law sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

inspect, a thing, includes—
(a)open the thing and examine its contents; and
(b)test the thing or its contents or both.

def inspect sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

insurer ...

def insurer sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

om 2018 No. 10 s 14(1)

intelligent access map means the spatial data set in electronic form, issued by TCA from time to time, that defines the national public road system.

def intelligent access map ins 2013 No. 4 s 12

intelligent access program agreement, for the purposes of Chapter 7, has the meaning given by section 403.

def intelligent access program agreement sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

amd 2016 No. 65 s 139

intelligent access program audit, for the purposes of Chapter 7, has the meaning given by section 403.

def intelligent access program audit sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

amd 2016 No. 65 s 139

intelligent access program auditor means a person engaged by TCA for auditing activities conducted by intelligent access program service providers.

def intelligent access program auditor sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

amd 2016 No. 65 s 139

intelligent access program conditions has the meaning given by section 402.

def intelligent access program conditions sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

amd 2016 No. 65 s 139

intelligent access program information, for the purposes of Chapter 7, has the meaning given by section 403.

def intelligent access program information sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

amd 2016 No. 65 s 139

intelligent access program reporting entity, for the purposes of Chapter 6, has the meaning given by section 221.

def intelligent access program reporting entity sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

amd 2016 No. 65 s 139

intelligent access program service provider has the meaning given by section 403.

def intelligent access program service provider sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

amd 2016 No. 65 s 139

intelligent access program vehicle, for the purposes of Chapter 7, has the meaning given by section 403.

def intelligent access program vehicle sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

amd 2016 No. 65 s 139

intelligent transport system means a system involving the use of electronic or other technology, whether located in a heavy vehicle or on or near a road or elsewhere, that is able to monitor, generate, record, store, display, analyse, transmit or report information about—
(a)any or all of the following—
(i)a heavy vehicle, its equipment or load;
(ii)the driver of a heavy vehicle;
(iii)an operator of a heavy vehicle;
(iv)anyone else involved in road transport using a heavy vehicle; and
(b)without limiting paragraph (a), the compliance or noncompliance with this Law of the use of a heavy vehicle on a road.

def intelligent transport system sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

investigation purposes means investigating a contravention or suspected contravention of this Law.

def investigation purposes sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

journey documentation
(a)means a document, other than transport documentation, in any form—
(i)directly or indirectly associated with—
(A)a transaction for the actual or proposed road transport of goods or passengers using a heavy vehicle, or for a previous transport of the goods or passengers by any transport method; or
(B)goods or passengers, to the extent the document is relevant to a transaction for their actual or proposed road transport; and
(ii)whether relating to a particular journey or to journeys generally; and
(b)includes, for example, any or all of the following—
(i)a document kept, used or obtained by a responsible person for a heavy vehicle in connection with the transport of goods or passengers;
(ii)a workshop, maintenance or repair record relating to a heavy vehicle used, or claimed to be used, for transporting goods or passengers;
(iii)a subcontractor’s payment advice relating to goods or passengers or their transport;
(iv)records kept, used or obtained by the driver of a heavy vehicle used, or claimed to be used, for transporting goods or passengers;

Examples—

driver’s run sheet
work diary entry
fuel docket or receipt
food receipt
tollway receipt
pay record
mobile or other telephone record
(v)information reported through the use of an intelligent transport system;
(vi)a driver manual or instruction sheet;
(vii)an advice resulting from check weighing of a heavy vehicle’s mass or load performed before, during or after a journey.

Note—

See the definition document in section 12 of Schedule 1.

def journey documentation sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

amd 2018 No. 18 s 6(3)

law enforcement agency means an agency that has functions or activities directed at the prevention, detection, investigation, prosecution or punishment of offences and other contraventions of a law for which penalties or sanctions may be imposed.

def law enforcement agency sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

law enforcement purposes, for the purposes of Chapter 7, has the meaning given by section 403.

def law enforcement purposes sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

load, of a heavy vehicle or in a heavy vehicle, means—
(a)all the goods, passengers, drivers and other persons in the vehicle; and
(b)all fuel, water, lubricants and readily removable equipment carried in the vehicle and required for its normal use; and
(c)personal items used by the vehicle’s driver or someone else necessary for the normal use of the vehicle; and
(d)anything that is normally removed from the vehicle when not in use.

def load, of a heavy vehicle or in a heavy vehicle, sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

load, when used as a verb, and loader
A person loads goods in a heavy vehicle, and is a loader of goods in a heavy vehicle, if the person is a person who—
(a)loads the vehicle, or any container that is in or part of the vehicle, with the goods for road transport; or
(b)loads the vehicle with a freight container, whether or not it contains goods, for road transport.

def load, when used as a verb, and loader sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

loaded mass, of a vehicle, means the vehicle’s mass together with the mass of the vehicle’s load that is transmitted to the ground.

def loaded mass sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

loading manager, for goods in a heavy vehicle, means—
(a)a person who manages, or is responsible for the operation of, regular loading or unloading premises for heavy vehicles where the goods are—
(i)loaded onto the heavy vehicle; or
(ii)unloaded from the heavy vehicle; or
(b)a person who has been assigned by a person mentioned in paragraph (a) as responsible for supervising, managing or controlling, directly or indirectly, activities carried out by a loader or unloader of goods at regular loading or unloading premises for heavy vehicles.

def loading manager sub 2013 No. 4 s 12; 2016 No. 65 s 7(1)–(2)

loading requirements has the meaning given by section 110.

def loading requirements sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

local government authority, for a participating jurisdiction, means an entity that is declared by a law of that jurisdiction to be a local government authority for that jurisdiction for the purposes of this Law.

def local government authority sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

maintenance management accreditation means—
(a)maintenance management accreditation granted under section 458; or
(b)accreditation of a similar kind under another law of a participating jurisdiction.

def maintenance management accreditation sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

amd 2015 No. 12 s 4(8)

maintenance management standards and business rules, for the purposes of Chapter 8, has the meaning given by section 457.

def maintenance management standards and business rules sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

maintenance management system, for the purposes of Chapter 8, has the meaning given by section 457.

def maintenance management system sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

major defect notice has the meaning given by section 526(2)(a).

def major defect notice sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

major rest break, for the purposes of Chapter 6, has the meaning given by section 221.

def major rest break sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

malfunction
(a)for the purposes of Chapter 6, has the meaning given by section 221; and
(b)for the purposes of Chapter 7, has the meaning given by section 403.

def malfunction sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

management member, of an unincorporated body, means—
(a)if the body has a management committee—each member of the management committee; or
(b)otherwise—each member who is concerned with, or takes part in, the body’s management, whatever name is given to the member’s position in the body.

def management member ins 2016 No. 65 s 7(2)

mass, dimension or loading requirement means a mass requirement, dimension requirement or loading requirement.

def mass, dimension or loading requirement sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

mass management accreditation means—
(a)mass management accreditation granted under section 458; or
(b)accreditation of a similar kind under another law of a participating jurisdiction.

def mass management accreditation sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

amd 2015 No. 12 s 4(9)

mass management standards and business rules, for the purposes of Chapter 8, has the meaning given by section 457.

def mass management standards and business rules sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

mass management system, for the purposes of Chapter 8, has the meaning given by section 457.

def mass management system sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

mass or dimension authority means—
(a)a mass or dimension exemption; or
(b)a class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation.

def mass or dimension authority sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

mass or dimension exemption means—
(a)a mass or dimension exemption (notice); or
(b)a mass or dimension exemption (permit).

def mass or dimension exemption sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

mass or dimension exemption (notice) has the meaning given by section 117(2).

def mass or dimension exemption (notice) sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

mass or dimension exemption (permit) has the meaning given by section 122(3).

def mass or dimension exemption (permit) sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

mass requirement means—
(a)a prescribed mass requirement (under section 95); or
(b)a requirement as to a mass limit relating to a heavy vehicle under a condition to which a mass or dimension authority is subject (where the mass limit is lower than the relevant prescribed mass requirement); or
(c)a requirement as to a mass limit under a PBS vehicle approval; or
(d)a requirement as to a mass limit indicated by an official traffic sign; or

Note—

See the definitions indicated and official traffic sign.

(e)a requirement as to a mass limit under the GVM or GCM for a heavy vehicle; or
(f)a requirement as to a mass limit for a component vehicle as stated by the manufacturer or as prescribed by a heavy vehicle standard.

def mass requirement ins 2013 No. 4 s 12

mass requirements ...

def mass requirements om 2013 No. 4 s 12

maximum work requirement means a requirement of Chapter 6 relating to a maximum work time for the driver of a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle.

def maximum work requirement sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

maximum work time means the maximum time the driver of a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle may drive a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle, or otherwise work, without taking a rest.

def maximum work time sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

minimum rest requirement means a requirement of Chapter 6 relating to the minimum rest time for the driver of a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle.

def minimum rest requirement sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

minimum rest time means the minimum time the driver of a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle must rest in order to break up the period of time the driver drives a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle or otherwise works.

def minimum rest time sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

minor defect notice has the meaning given by section 526(2)(b).

def minor defect notice sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

minor risk breach
(a)for a mass requirement—has the meaning given by section 98; or
(b)for a dimension requirement—has the meaning given by section 105; or
(c)for a loading requirement—has the meaning given by section 112; or
(d)for a maximum work requirement or minimum rest requirement—has the meaning given by section 222(1).

def minor risk breach sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

mistake of fact defence ...

def mistake of fact defence sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

om 2016 No. 65 s 7(1)

modification, for the purposes of Part 3.3, has the meaning given by section 84.

def modification ins 2015 No. 12 s 4(10)

monitoring purposes means finding out whether this Law is being complied with.

def monitoring purposes sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

motor vehicle means a vehicle built to be propelled by a motor that forms part of the vehicle.

def motor vehicle sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

national regulations means the regulations made under section 730.

def national regulations sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

National Transport Commission means the National Transport Commission established by the National Transport Commission Act 2003 of the Commonwealth.

def National Transport Commission sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

night means the period between sunset on a day and sunrise on the next day.

def night sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

night rest break means—
(a)7 continuous hours stationary rest time between 10p.m. on a day and 8a.m. on the next day; or

Note—

Under sections 248 and 303, the time must be based on the time zone of the driver's base for drivers on a journey in a different time zone to the driver's base.
(b)24 continuous hours stationary rest time.

def night rest break sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

night work time, for the purposes of Chapter 6, has the meaning given by section 221.

def night work time sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

noncompliance report, for the purposes of Chapter 7, has the meaning given by section 403.

def noncompliance report sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

non-participating jurisdiction, for the purposes of Chapter 6, has the meaning given by section 221.

def non-participating jurisdiction sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

notice
(a)means written notice; and
(b)for the purposes of Division 5B of Part 9.4, has the meaning given by section 576D.

def notice sub 2013 No. 4 s 12; 2018 No. 18 s 6(1)–(2)

occupier, of a place, includes the following—
(a)if there is more than 1 person who apparently occupies the place—any 1 of the persons;
(b)any person at the place who is apparently acting with the authority of a person who apparently occupies the place;
(c)if no-one apparently occupies the place—any person who is an owner of the place.

def occupier sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

offence warning ...

def offence warning om 2013 No. 4 s 12

official means any of the following persons exercising a function under this Law—
(a)the Regulator;
(b)a road authority;
(c)an authorised officer.

def official sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

official traffic sign means a sign or device erected or placed, under a law, by a public authority (including, for example, a police force or police service) to regulate traffic.

def official traffic sign ins 2013 No. 4 s 12

operate and operator
A person operates a vehicle or combination, and is an operator of the vehicle or combination, if the person is responsible for controlling or directing the use of—
(a)for a vehicle (including a vehicle in a combination)—the vehicle; or
(b)for a combination—the towing vehicle in the combination.

def operate and operator sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

oversize vehicle means a heavy vehicle that does not comply with a dimension requirement applying to it.

def oversize vehicle sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

owner
(a)of a vehicle means—
(i)each person who is an owner, joint owner or part owner of the vehicle; or
(ii)a person who has the use or control of the vehicle under a credit agreement, hiring agreement, hire-purchase agreement or leasing arrangement; or
(b)of a combination means—
(i)each person who is an owner, joint owner or part owner of the towing vehicle in the combination; or
(ii)a person who has the use or control of the towing vehicle in the combination under a credit agreement, hiring agreement, hire-purchase agreement or leasing arrangement; or
(c)of a sample means an owner of the sample or the thing from which it was taken.

def owner sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

pack and packer
A person packs goods, and is a packer of goods, if the person—
(a)puts the goods in packaging, even if that packaging is already on a vehicle; or

Example for the purposes of paragraph (a)—

A person who uses a hose to fill the tank of a tank vehicle with petrol packs the petrol for transport.
(b)assembles the goods as packaged goods in an outer packaging, even if that packaging is already on a vehicle; or
(c)supervises an activity mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b); or
(d)manages or controls an activity mentioned in paragraph (a), (b) or (c).

def pack and packer sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

packaging, in relation to goods, means anything that contains, holds, protects or encloses the goods, whether directly or indirectly, to enable them to be received or held for transport, or to be transported.

Note—

It may be that a container constitutes the whole of the packaging of goods, as in the case of a drum in which goods are directly placed.

def packaging sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

participating jurisdiction
(a)for the purposes of this Law other than Chapter 6—means a State or Territory in which—
(i)this Law applies as a law of the State or Territory; or
(ii)a law that substantially corresponds to the provisions of this Law has been enacted; or
(iii)a law prescribed by the national regulations for the purposes of this subparagraph has been enacted; or
(b)for the purposes of Chapter 6—has the meaning given by section 221.

def participating jurisdiction sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

participation day ...

def participation day om 2013 No. 4 s 12

party in the chain of responsibility, for a heavy vehicle, means each of the following persons—
(a)if the vehicle’s driver is an employed driver—an employer of the driver;
(b)if the vehicle’s driver is a self-employed driver—a prime contractor for the driver;
(c)an operator of the vehicle;
(d)a scheduler for the vehicle;
(e)a consignor of any goods in the vehicle;
(f)a consignee of any goods in the vehicle;
(g)a packer of any goods in the vehicle;
(h)a loading manager for any goods in the vehicle;
(i)a loader of any goods in the vehicle;
(j)an unloader of any goods in the vehicle.

def party in the chain of responsibility sub 2013 No. 4 s 12; 2016 No. 65 s 7(1)–(2)

passenger, of a vehicle, means any person carried in the vehicle other than the vehicle’s driver or someone else necessary for the normal use of the vehicle.

def passenger sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

PBS design approval means a current approval given under section 22 for the design of a type of heavy vehicle that, if built to the design, is eligible for PBS vehicle approval.

Note—

‘PBS’ stands for performance based standards.

def PBS design approval ins 2013 No. 4 s 12

PBS Review Panel means an advisory body appointed by the Regulator to provide expert advice in the assessment of applications for PBS design approvals or PBS vehicle approvals and of their impacts.

Note—

The membership of the PBS Review Panel consists of one representative of each State and Territory, an independent Chairperson and an independent Deputy Chairperson. The Commonwealth may, if it decides to do so, nominate a representative of the Commonwealth. The procedure of the Panel is as determined by the Regulator.

def PBS Review Panel ins 2013 No. 4 s 12

PBS vehicle means a heavy vehicle that is the subject of a current PBS vehicle approval under Part 1.4.

def PBS vehicle ins 2013 No. 4 s 12

PBS vehicle approval means a current approval issued for a heavy vehicle by the Regulator under section 23.

def PBS vehicle approval ins 2013 No. 4 s 12

personal information
(a)generally, means information or an opinion, including information or an opinion forming part of a database, whether true or not, and whether recorded in a material form or not, about an individual whose identity is apparent, or can reasonably be found out, from the information or opinion; and
(b)for the purposes of Chapter 7, has the meaning given by section 403.

def personal information sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

pig trailer means a trailer—
(a)with 1 axle group or a single axle near the middle of its load carrying surface; and
(b)connected to the towing vehicle by a drawbar.

def pig trailer ins 2013 No. 4 s 12

pilot vehicle means a motor vehicle that accompanies an oversize vehicle to warn other road users of the oversize vehicle’s presence.

def pilot vehicle sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

place of business, for the purposes of Part 9.2, has the meaning given by section 494.

def place of business sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

pole-type trailer means a trailer that—
(a)is attached to a towing vehicle by a pole or an attachment fitted to a pole; and
(b)is ordinarily used for transporting loads, such as logs, pipes, structural members, or other long objects, that can generally support themselves like beams between supports.

graphic image

Pole-type trailer

def pole-type trailer sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

police commissioner means the head of the police force or police service (however called) of a participating jurisdiction.

def police commissioner sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

premises
(a)means a building or other structure, a vessel, or another place (whether built on or not)—
(i)from which a business is carried out; or
(ii)at or from which goods are loaded onto or unloaded from vehicles; and
(b)includes a part of a building, structure, vessel or place mentioned in paragraph (a).

def premises sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

prescribed dimension requirement means a requirement prescribed by the national regulations under section 101.

def prescribed dimension requirement ins 2013 No. 4 s 12

prescribed fee means a fee prescribed by the national regulations under section 740(1).

def prescribed fee sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

prescribed mass requirement means a requirement prescribed by the national regulations under section 95.

def prescribed mass requirement ins 2013 No. 4 s 12

previous corresponding law
1
A previous corresponding law is a law of a participating jurisdiction that, before the participation day for the jurisdiction, provided for the same, or substantially the same, matters as the provisions of this Law.
2
A previous corresponding law for a provision of this Law is a provision of a previous corresponding law within the meaning of paragraph 1 that corresponds, or substantially corresponds, to the provision of this Law.
3For the purposes of paragraph 1, it is irrelevant whether the law of the participating jurisdiction—
(a)is in 1 instrument or 2 or more instruments; or
(b)is part of an instrument; or
(c)is part of an instrument and the whole or part of 1 or more other instruments.

def previous corresponding law sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

prime contractor, of the driver of a heavy vehicle, means a person who engages the driver to drive the vehicle under a contract for services.

Example—

a logistics business that engages a subcontractor to transport goods.

def prime contractor sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

prime mover means a heavy motor vehicle designed to tow a semitrailer.

def prime mover sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

prohibition notice has the meaning given by section 576A(3).

def prohibition notice ins 2018 No. 18 s 6(2)

prohibition order has the meaning given by section 607(1).

def prohibition order sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

promisee see section 590A.

def promisee ins 2016 No. 65 s 7(2)

protected information, for the purposes of Part 13.4, has the meaning given by section 727.

def protected information sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

public authority means—
(a)a State or Territory or the Commonwealth, in any capacity; or
(b)a body established under a law, or the holder of an office established under a law, for a public purpose, including a local government authority.

def public authority sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

public notice means a notice—
(a)in the Commonwealth Gazette; and
(b)on the Regulator’s website; and
(c)if the Regulator considers it appropriate—in another way, including, for example, in a national newspaper.

def public notice ins 2016 No. 65 s 117

public place means a place or part of a place—
(a)that the public is entitled to use, is open to members of the public or is used by the public, whether or not on payment of money; or
(b)the occupier of which allows members of the public to enter, whether or not on payment of money.

def public place sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

public risk means—
(a)a safety risk; or
(b)a risk of damage to road infrastructure.

def public risk ins 2016 No. 65 s 7(2)

public safety means the safety of persons or property, including the safety of—
(a)the drivers of, and passengers and other persons in, vehicles and combinations; and
(b)persons or property in or in the vicinity of, or likely to be in or in the vicinity of, road infrastructure and public places; and
(c)vehicles and combinations and any loads in them.

def public safety sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

public safety ground, for a reviewable decision, has the meaning given by section 640.

def public safety ground sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

quad-axle group means a group of 4 axles, in which the horizontal distance between the centre-lines of the outermost axles is more than 3.2m but not more than 4.9m.

def quad-axle group sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

qualified, to drive a heavy vehicle, or to start or stop its engine, for a person, means the person—
(a)holds a driver licence of the appropriate class to drive the vehicle that is not suspended; and
(b)is not prevented under a law, including, for example, by the conditions of the driver licence, from driving the vehicle at the relevant time.

def qualified sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

Queensland Minister means the responsible Minister for Queensland.

def Queensland Minister sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

reasonable steps defence ...

def reasonable steps defence sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

om 2016 No. 65 s 7(1)

reasonably believes means believes on grounds that are reasonable in the circumstances.

def reasonably believes sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

reasonably practicable, in relation to a duty, means that which is, or was at a particular time, reasonably able to be done in relation to the duty, weighing up all relevant matters, including—
(a)the likelihood of a safety risk, or damage to road infrastructure, happening; and
(b)the harm that could result from the risk or damage; and
(c)what the person knows, or ought reasonably to know, about the risk or damage; and
(d)what the person knows, or ought reasonably to know, about the ways of—
(i)removing or minimising the risk; or
(ii)preventing or minimising the damage; and
(e)the availability and suitability of those ways; and
(f)the cost associated with the available ways, including whether the cost is grossly disproportionate to the likelihood of the risk or damage.

def reasonably practicable ins 2016 No. 65 s 7(2)

reasonably satisfied means satisfied on grounds that are reasonable in the circumstances.

def reasonably satisfied sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

reasonably suspects means suspects on grounds that are reasonable in the circumstances.

def reasonably suspects sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

record keeper has the meaning given by section 317.

def record keeper sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

amd 2016 No. 65 s 7(5)

record location, of the driver of a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle, for the purposes of Chapter 6, has the meaning given by section 290.

def record location sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

registered industry code of practice means an industry code of practice registered under section 706.

def registered industry code of practice sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

registered interest means an interest registered under the Personal Property Securities Act 2009 of the Commonwealth by a secured party for which the thing or sample is collateral.

def registered interest ins 2013 No. 4 s 12

registered operator, of a heavy vehicle, means the person recorded on a vehicle register as the person responsible for the vehicle, however named, kept under another Australian road law.

def registered operator sub 2013 No. 4 s 12; 2018 No. 10 s 14(1)–(2)

registration, of a heavy vehicle, means registration of the vehicle under an Australian road law.

def registration sub 2013 No. 4 s 12; 2018 No. 10 s 14(1)–(2)

registration authority, for a heavy vehicle, means the authority responsible for the registration of the vehicle under an Australian road law.

def registration authority ins 2015 No. 12 s 4(11)

sub 2018 No. 10 s 14(1)–(2)

registration certificate ...

def registration certificate om 2013 No. 4 s 12

registration exemption ...

def registration exemption sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

om 2018 No. 10 s 14(1)

registration item means a document, number plate, label or other thing relating to the registration or purported registration of a heavy vehicle.

Note—

See the definition document in section 12 of Schedule 1.

def registration item sub 2013 No. 4 s 12; 2018 No. 10 s 14(1)–(2)

amd 2018 No. 18 s 6(3)

registration number, for a heavy vehicle, means the identifying registration number, however described, given to the vehicle under an Australian road law.

def registration number sub 2013 No. 4 s 12; 2018 No. 10 s 14(1)–(2)

regular loading or unloading premises
1
Regular loading or unloading premises, for heavy vehicles, means premises at or from which an average of at least 5 heavy vehicles are loaded or unloaded on each day the premises are operated for loading or unloading heavy vehicles.
2For the purposes of paragraph 1, an average of at least 5 heavy vehicles are loaded or unloaded at or from premises on each day the premises are operated for loading or unloading heavy vehicles if—
(a)for premises operated for loading or unloading heavy vehicles for 12 months or more—during the previous 12 months, an average of at least 5 heavy vehicles were loaded or unloaded at or from the premises on each day the premises were operated for loading or unloading heavy vehicles; or
(b)for premises operated for loading or unloading heavy vehicles for less than 12 months—during the period the premises have been in operation for loading or unloading heavy vehicles, an average of at least 5 heavy vehicles were loaded or unloaded at or from the premises on each day the premises were operated for loading or unloading heavy vehicles.
3
In the application of this definition to the definition loading manager where used in Chapter 6, references in paragraphs 1 and 2 to ‘an average of at least 5 heavy vehicles’ are to be read as references to an average of at least 5 fatigue-regulated heavy vehicles.

Note—

Consequently, Chapter 6 applies to a person as a loading manager only if the premises concerned are premises at or from which an average of at least 5 fatigue-regulated heavy vehicles are loaded or unloaded on each day the premises are operated for loading or unloading heavy vehicles.

def regular loading or unloading premises sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

amd 2016 No. 65 s 7(6)

Regulator means the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator established under section 656.

def Regulator sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

Regulator’s website means the website of the Regulator on the internet.

def Regulator’s website sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

relevant appeal body, for the purposes of Chapter 11, has the meaning given by section 640.

def relevant appeal body sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

relevant contravention, for the purposes of Chapter 7, has the meaning given by section 403.

def relevant contravention sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

relevant emission, for a heavy vehicle, means noise emission, gaseous emission or particle emission emanating from the vehicle.

def relevant emission ins 2013 No. 4 s 12

relevant garage address, of a heavy vehicle, means—
(a)the heavy vehicle’s garage address; or
(b)if the heavy vehicle is a combination—the garage address of the towing vehicle in the combination.

def relevant garage address sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

relevant jurisdiction, for the purposes of Chapter 11, has the meaning given by section 640.

def relevant jurisdiction sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

relevant management system, for the purposes of Chapter 8, has the meaning given by section 457.

def relevant management system sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

relevant monitoring matters, for the purposes of Chapter 7, has the meaning given by section 403.

def relevant monitoring matters sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

relevant place, for the purposes of Part 9.2, has the meaning given by section 494.

def relevant place sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

relevant police commissioner, in relation to a police officer, means the police commissioner for the police force or police service (however called) of which the police officer is a member.

def relevant police commissioner sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

relevant road manager, for a mass or dimension authority, means a road manager for a road in the area, or on the route, to which the authority applies.

def relevant road manager sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

relevant standards and business rules, for the purposes of Chapter 8, has the meaning given by section 457.

def relevant standards and business rules sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

relevant tribunal or court, for a participating jurisdiction, means a tribunal or court that is declared by a law of that jurisdiction to be the relevant tribunal or court for that jurisdiction for the purposes of this Law.

def relevant tribunal or court sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

residence, for the purposes of Part 9.2, has the meaning given by section 494(1).

def residence ins 2015 No. 12 s 4(12)

responsible entity, for a freight container, means—
(a)the person who, in Australia, consigned the container for road transport using a heavy vehicle; or
(b)if there is no person as described in paragraph (a)—the person who, in Australia, for a consignor, arranged for the container’s road transport using a heavy vehicle; or
(c)if there is no person as described in paragraph (a) or (b)—the person who, in Australia, physically offered the container for road transport using a heavy vehicle.

def responsible entity sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

responsible Minister, for a participating jurisdiction, means the Minister of that jurisdiction nominated by it as its responsible Minister for the purposes of this Law.

def responsible Minister sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

responsible Ministers means a group of Ministers consisting of—
(a)the responsible Minister for each participating jurisdiction; and
(b)the Commonwealth responsible Minister.

Note—

See also section 655(3).

def responsible Ministers sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

responsible person, for a heavy vehicle, means a person having, at a relevant time, a role or responsibility associated with road transport using the vehicle, and includes any of the following—
(a)an owner of the vehicle or, if it is a combination, an owner of a heavy vehicle forming part of the combination;
(b)the vehicle’s driver;
(c)an operator or registered operator of the vehicle or, if it is a combination, an operator or registered operator of a heavy vehicle forming part of the combination;
(d)a person in charge or apparently in charge of—
(i)the vehicle; or
(ii)the vehicle’s garage address or, if it is a combination, the garage address of a heavy vehicle forming part of the combination; or
(iii)a base of the vehicle’s driver;
(e)a person appointed under a heavy vehicle accreditation to have monitoring or other responsibilities under the accreditation, including, for example, responsibilities for certifying, monitoring or approving the use of heavy vehicles under the accreditation;
(f)a person who provides to an owner or registered operator of the vehicle or, if it is a combination, an owner or registered operator of a heavy vehicle forming part of the combination, an intelligent transport system for the vehicle;
(g)a person in charge of a place entered by an authorised officer under this Law for the purpose of exercising a power under this Law;
(h)a consignor of goods for road transport;
(i)a packer of goods in a freight container or other container or in a package or on a pallet for road transport;
(j)a person who loads goods or a container for road transport;
(k)a person who unloads goods or a container containing goods consigned for road transport;
(l)a person to whom goods are consigned for road transport;
(m)a person who receives goods packed outside Australia in a freight container or other container or on a pallet for road transport in Australia;
(n)an owner or operator of a weighbridge or weighing facility used to weigh the vehicle, or an occupier of the place where the weighbridge or weighing facility is located;
(o)a responsible entity for a freight container on the vehicle;
(p)a loading manager for goods in heavy vehicles for road transport or another person who controls or directly influences the loading of goods for road transport;
(q)a scheduler for the vehicle;
(r)an employer, employee, agent or subcontractor of a person mentioned in any of paragraphs (a) to (q).

def responsible person sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

rest, in relation to a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle, has the meaning given by section 221.

def rest sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

rest time, for the purposes of Chapter 6, has the meaning given by section 221.

def rest time sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

review and appeal information
(a)for a decision made by the Regulator or an authorised officer who is not a police officer, means the following information—
(i)that, under section 641, a dissatisfied person for the decision may ask for the decision to be reviewed by the Regulator;
(ii)that, under section 642, the person may apply for the decision to be stayed by a relevant tribunal or court unless the decision was made by the Regulator on the basis of a public safety ground;
(iii)that, in relation to the Regulator’s decision on the review, the person may—
(A)under section 647, appeal against the decision to a relevant tribunal or court; and
(B)under section 648, apply for the decision to be stayed by a relevant tribunal or court unless the reviewable decision to which the review decision relates was made by the Regulator on the basis of a public safety ground; and
(b)for a decision made by a road manager (for a road) that is a public authority, means the following information—
(i)that, under section 641, a dissatisfied person for the decision may apply to the Regulator to have the decision reviewed;
(ii)that, under section 643, the Regulator must refer the application to the road manager for review;
(iii)that the decision of the road manager on the review is not subject to further review or appeal under this Law; and
(c)for a decision made by an authorised officer who is a police officer, or a road manager (for a road) that is not a public authority, means that the decision is not subject to review or appeal under this Law.

def review and appeal information sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

review application, for the purposes of Chapter 11, has the meaning given by section 640.

def review application sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

review decision, for the purposes of Chapter 11, has the meaning given by section 640.

def review decision sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

reviewable decision has the meaning given by section 640.

def reviewable decision sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

reviewer, for the purposes of Chapter 11, has the meaning given by section 640.

def reviewer sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

rigid, other than in the definition articulated bus, means not articulated.

def rigid sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

risk category
(a)for a contravention of a mass, dimension or loading requirement, means 1 of the following categories—
(i)minor risk breach;
(ii)substantial risk breach;
(iii)severe risk breach; or
(b)for a contravention of a maximum work requirement or minimum rest requirement, means 1 of the following categories—
(i)minor risk breach;
(ii)substantial risk breach;
(iii)severe risk breach;
(iv)critical risk breach.

def risk category sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

road has the meaning given by section 8.

Note—

See also section 13.

def road sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

road authority, for a participating jurisdiction, means an entity that is declared by a law of that jurisdiction to be the road authority for that jurisdiction for the purposes of this Law.

def road authority sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

road condition has the meaning given by section 154.

def road condition sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

road infrastructure includes—
(a)a road, including its surface or pavement; and
(b)anything under or supporting a road or its surface or pavement; and
(c)any bridge, tunnel, causeway, road-ferry, ford or other work or structure forming part of a road system or supporting a road; and
(d)any bridge or other work or structure located above, in or on a road; and
(e)any traffic control devices, railway equipment, electricity equipment, emergency telephone systems or any other facilities (whether of the same or a different kind) in, on, over, under or connected with anything mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (d).

def road infrastructure sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

road manager, for a road in a participating jurisdiction, means an entity that is declared by a law of that jurisdiction to be the road manager for the road for the purposes of this Law.

def road manager sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

road-related area has the meaning given by section 8.

def road-related area sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

Road Rules, for a participating jurisdiction, means the law that is declared by a law of that jurisdiction to be the Road Rules for the purposes of this Law.

def Road Rules sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

road train means—
(a)a B-triple; or
(b)a combination, other than a B-double, consisting of a motor vehicle towing at least 2 trailers, excluding any converter dolly supporting a semitrailer.

graphic image

Typical triple road train

def road train sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

amd 2015 No. 12 s 4(13)

road transport means transport by road.

def road transport sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

route assessment, for the purposes of Part 4.7, has the meaning given by section 154.

def route assessment sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

safety duty means a duty imposed under any of the following provisions—
(a)section 26C;
(b)section 26E(1) or (2);
(c)section 89(1);
(d)section 93(1), (2) or (3);
(e)section 129(1), (2) or (3);
(f)section 137;
(g)section 150(1);
(h)section 153A(1);
(i)section 186(2), (3), (4) or (5);
(j)section 187(2) or (3);
(k)section 335(1);
(l)section 336(1);
(m)section 337(2);
(n)section 454(1) or (2);
(o)section 467;
(p)section 470(2), (3) or (4);
(q)section 604;
(r)section 610.

def safety duty reloc 2018 No. 18 s 9

safety risk means a risk—
(a)to public safety; or
(b)of harm to the environment.

def safety risk sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

schedule, for the driver of a heavy vehicle, means—
(a)the schedule for the transport of any goods or passengers by the vehicle; or
(b)the schedule of the driver’s work times and rest times.

def schedule sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

scheduler, for a heavy vehicle, means a person who—
(a)schedules the transport of any goods or passengers by the vehicle; or
(b)schedules the work times and rest times of the vehicle’s driver.

def scheduler sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

self-employed driver, of a heavy vehicle, means a driver of the vehicle who is not an employed driver of the vehicle.

def self-employed driver sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

semitrailer means a trailer that has—
(a)1 axle group or a single axle towards the rear; and
(b)a means of attachment to a prime mover that results in some of the mass of the trailer’s load being imposed on the prime mover.

def semitrailer sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

severe risk breach
(a)for a mass requirement—has the meaning given by section 100; or
(b)for a dimension requirement—has the meaning given by section 107; or
(c)for a loading requirement—has the meaning given by section 114; or
(d)for a maximum work requirement or minimum rest requirement—has the meaning given by section 222(3).

def severe risk breach sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

severe risk breach lower limit
(a)for the purposes of Division 2 of Part 4.2, has the meaning given by section 97; or
(b)for the purposes of Division 2 of Part 4.3, has the meaning given by section 104.

def severe risk breach lower limit sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

sign of fatigue, for the purposes of Chapter 6, has the meaning given by section 221.

def sign of fatigue sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

single axle means—
(a)1 axle; or
(b)2 axles with centres between transverse, parallel, vertical planes spaced less than 1.0m apart.

def single axle sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

single axle group ...

def single axle group om 2013 No. 4 s 12

solo driver, for the purposes of Chapter 6, has the meaning given by section 221.

def solo driver sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

speed limit means—
(a)a speed limit applying under this Law, the Road Rules or another law; and
(b)when used in the context of a speed limit applying to the driver of a heavy vehicle—a speed limit applying to the driver or the vehicle (or both) under this Law, the Road Rules or another law (whether it applies specifically to the particular driver or the particular vehicle or it applies to all drivers or vehicles or to a class of drivers or vehicles to which the driver or vehicle belongs).

Note—

A reference to a speed limit applying under this Law, the Road Rules or another law covers both—

a speed limit specified in this Law, the Road Rules or other law
a speed limit specified in an instrument, or in some other manner, under this Law, the Road Rules or other law (for example, a speed limit specified in a permit or a Commonwealth Gazette notice)

def speed limit sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

standard hours, for the purposes of Chapter 6, has the meaning given by section 249.

def standard hours sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

Standards Australia means Standards Australia Limited CAN 087 326 690, and includes a reference to the Standards Association of Australia as constituted before 1 July 1999.

def Standards Australia sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

stationary rest time has the meaning given by section 221.

def stationary rest time sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

substantial risk breach
(a)for a mass requirement—has the meaning given by section 99; or
(b)for a dimension requirement—has the meaning given by section 106; or
(c)for a loading requirement—has the meaning given by section 113; or
(d)for a maximum work requirement or minimum rest requirement—has the meaning given by section 222(2).

def substantial risk breach sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

substantial risk breach lower limit
(a)for the purposes of Division 2 of Part 4.2, has the meaning given by section 97; or
(b)for the purposes of Division 2 of Part 4.3, has the meaning given by section 104.

def substantial risk breach lower limit sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

suitable rest place, for fatigue-regulated heavy vehicles, means—
(a)a rest area designated for use, and able to be used, by fatigue-regulated heavy vehicles; or
(b)a place at which a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle may be safely and lawfully parked.

def suitable rest place sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

supervisory intervention order has the meaning given by section 600(1).

def supervisory intervention order sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

supplementary record, for the purposes of Chapter 6, has the meaning given by section 221.

def supplementary record sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

tamper
(a)with an emission control system, for the purposes of section 91, has the meaning given by that section; or
(b)with a plate or label, for the purposes of section 87A, has the meaning given by that section; or
(c)with a speed limiter, for the purposes of section 93, has the meaning given by that section; or
(d)with an approved electronic recording system, for the purposes of Chapter 6, has the meaning given by section 334; or
(e)with an approved intelligent transport system, for the purposes of Chapter 7, has the meaning given by section 403.

def tamper sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

amd 2015 No. 12 s 4(14–15)

tandem axle group means a group of at least 2 axles, in which the horizontal distance between the centre-lines of the outermost axles is at least 1m but not more than 2m.

def tandem axle group sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

TCA means Transport Certification Australia Limited ACN 113 379 936.

def TCA sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

Territory means the Australian Capital Territory or the Northern Territory.

def Territory sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

the State means the Crown in right of this jurisdiction, and includes—
(a)the Government of this jurisdiction; and
(b)a Minister of the Crown in right of this jurisdiction; and
(c)a statutory corporation, or other entity, representing the Crown in right of this jurisdiction.

def the State sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

third party insurance legislation means—
(a)legislation about compensation for third parties who are injured or killed by the use of motor vehicles or trailers; or
(b)legislation about payment of contributions towards compensation of that kind; or
(c)legislation requiring public liability insurance.

def third party insurance legislation sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

this jurisdiction see the law of each participating jurisdiction for the meaning of this term.

def this jurisdiction ins 2013 No. 4 s 12

this Law means—
(a)this Law as it applies as a law of a participating jurisdiction; or
(b)a law of a participating jurisdiction that—
(i)substantially corresponds to the provisions of this Law; or
(ii)
is prescribed by the national regulations for the purposes of paragraph (a)(iii) of the definition participating jurisdiction.

Note—

See also section 11.

def this Law sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

tow truck means—
(a)a heavy motor vehicle that is—
(i)equipped with a crane, winch, ramp or other lifting device; and
(ii)used or intended to be used for the towing of motor vehicles; or
(b)a heavy motor vehicle to which is attached, temporarily or otherwise, a trailer or device that is—
(i)equipped with a crane, winch, ramp or other lifting device; and
(ii)used or intended to be used for the towing of motor vehicles.

def tow truck sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

tractor means a motor vehicle used for towing purposes, other than—
(a)a motor vehicle designed to carry goods or passengers; or
(b)a tow truck.

def tractor sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

traffic includes vehicular traffic, pedestrian traffic and all other forms of road traffic.

def traffic sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

trailer means a vehicle that is built to be towed, or is towed, by a motor vehicle, but does not include a motor vehicle being towed.

def trailer sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

transport activities means activities, including business practices and making decisions, associated with the use of a heavy vehicle on a road, including, for example—
(a)contracting, directing or employing a person—
(i)to drive the vehicle; or
(ii)to carry out another activity associated with the use of the vehicle (such as maintaining or repairing the vehicle); or
(b)consigning goods for transport using the vehicle; or
(c)scheduling the transport of goods or passengers using the vehicle; or
(d)packing goods for transport using the vehicle; or
(e)managing the loading of goods onto or unloading of goods from the vehicle; or
(f)loading goods onto or unloading goods from the vehicle; or
(g)receiving goods unloaded from the vehicle.

def transport activities ins 2016 No. 65 s 7(2)

transport documentation means each of the following—
(a)each contractual document directly or indirectly associated with—
(i)a transaction for the actual or proposed road transport of goods or passengers or any previous transport of the goods or passengers by any transport method; or
(ii)goods or passengers, to the extent the document is relevant to the transaction for their actual or proposed road transport;
(b)each document—
(i)contemplated in a contractual document mentioned in paragraph (a); or
(ii)required by law, or customarily given, in connection with a contractual document or transaction mentioned in paragraph (a).

Examples—

bill of lading
consignment note
container weight declaration
contract of carriage
delivery order
export receival advice
invoice
load manifest
sea carriage document
vendor declaration

Note—

See the definition document in section 12 of Schedule 1.

def transport documentation sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

amd 2018 No. 18 s 6(3)

travel condition has the meaning given by section 154.

def travel condition ins 2013 No. 4 s 12

tri-axle group means a group of at least 3 axles, in which the horizontal distance between the centre-lines of the outermost axles is more than 2m but not more than 3.2m.

def tri-axle group sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

truck means a rigid motor vehicle built mainly as a load carrying vehicle.

def truck sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

twinsteer axle group means a group of 2 axles—
(a)with single tyres; and
(b)fitted to a motor vehicle; and
(c)connected to the same steering mechanism; and
(d)the horizontal distance between the centre-lines of which is at least 1m but not more than 2m.

def twinsteer axle group sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

two-up driving arrangement, for the purposes of Chapter 6, has the meaning given by section 221.

def two-up driving arrangement sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

unattended, for a heavy vehicle, for the purposes of Division 3 of Part 9.3, has the meaning given by section 515.

def unattended sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

under, for a law or a provision of a law, includes—
(a)by; and
(b)for the purposes of; and
(c)in accordance with; and
(d)within the meaning of.

def under sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

unincorporated body includes an unincorporated local government authority, but does not include an unincorporated partnership.

def unincorporated body ins 2016 No. 65 s 7(2)

unincorporated local government authority means a local government authority that is not a body corporate.

def unincorporated local government authority sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

unload ...

def unload om 2013 No. 4 s 12

unload and unloader
A person unloads goods in a heavy vehicle, and is an unloader of goods in a heavy vehicle, if the person is a person who—
(a)unloads from the vehicle, or any container that is in or part of the vehicle, goods that have been transported by road; or
(b)unloads from the vehicle a freight container, whether or not it contains goods, that has been transported by road.

def unload and unloader ins 2013 No. 4 s 12

unloader ...

def unloader om 2013 No. 4 s 12

unregistered heavy vehicle means a heavy vehicle that is not registered.

def unregistered heavy vehicle sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

unregistered heavy vehicle permit means a permit granted or issued under an Australian road law authorising the use of an unregistered heavy vehicle on a road.

def unregistered heavy vehicle permit sub 2013 No. 4 s 12; 2018 No. 10 s 14(1)–(2)

use, a heavy vehicle on a road, includes standing the vehicle on the road.

def use sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

vehicle condition has the meaning given by section 154.

def vehicle condition sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

vehicle defect notice means a major defect notice or a minor defect notice.

def vehicle defect notice sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

vehicle identifier, for the purposes of Division 6 of Part 9.3, has the meaning given by section 525.

def vehicle identifier ins 2015 No. 12 s 4(16)

vehicle register ...

def vehicle register sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

om 2018 No. 10 s 14(1)

vehicle registration duty ...

def vehicle registration duty sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

om 2018 No. 10 s 14(1)

vehicle registration duty legislation ...

def vehicle registration duty legislation ins 2013 No. 4 s 12

om 2018 No. 10 s 14(1)

vehicle standards exemption means—
(a)vehicle standards exemption (notice); or
(b)vehicle standards exemption (permit).

def vehicle standards exemption sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

vehicle standards exemption (notice) has the meaning given by section 61(2).

def vehicle standards exemption (notice) sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

vehicle standards exemption (permit) has the meaning given by section 68(2).

def vehicle standards exemption (permit) sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

VIN (vehicle identification number), for a heavy vehicle, means—
(a)for a heavy vehicle built before 1 January 1989 with an identification plate, the number quoted on the vehicle’s identification plate that—
(i)uniquely identifies the vehicle and sets it apart from similar vehicles; and
(ii)corresponds to the identification number of the vehicle that is permanently recorded elsewhere on the vehicle; or
(b)otherwise, the unique vehicle identification number assigned to the heavy vehicle under the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 of the Commonwealth.

def VIN sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

work, in relation to a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle, has the meaning given by section 221.

def work sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

work and rest change, for the purposes of Chapter 6, has the meaning given by section 221.

def work and rest change sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

work and rest hours exemption means—
(a)a work and rest hours exemption (notice); or
(b)a work and rest hours exemption (permit).

def work and rest hours exemption sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

work and rest hours exemption (notice) has the meaning given by section 266(2).

def work and rest hours exemption (notice) sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

work and rest hours exemption (permit) has the meaning given by section 273(2).

def work and rest hours exemption (permit) sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

work and rest hours option, for the purposes of Chapter 6, has the meaning given by section 243.

def work and rest hours option sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

work diary, for the purposes of Chapter 6, has the meaning given by section 221.

def work diary sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

work diary exemption means—
(a)a work diary exemption (notice); or
(b)a work diary exemption (permit).

def work diary exemption sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

work diary exemption (notice) has the meaning given by section 357(2).

def work diary exemption (notice) sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

work diary exemption (permit) has the meaning given by section 363(2).

def work diary exemption (permit) sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

work record, for the purposes of Chapter 6, has the meaning given by section 221.

def work record sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

work time, for the purposes of Chapter 6, has the meaning given by section 221.

def work time sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

wrecked ...

def wrecked sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

om 2018 No. 10 s 14(1)

written-off ...

def written-off sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

om 2018 No. 10 s 14(1)

written work diary, for the purposes of Chapter 6, has the meaning given by section 221.

def written work diary sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

6Meaning of heavy vehicle

(1)For the purposes of this Law, a vehicle is a heavy vehicle if it has a GVM or ATM of more than 4.5t.
(2)Also, for the purposes of this Law, a combination that includes a vehicle with a GVM or ATM of more than 4.5t is a heavy vehicle.
(3)However, rolling stock is not a heavy vehicle for the purposes of this Law.
(4)In this section—
rolling stock
1
Rolling stock is a vehicle designed to operate or move on a railway track and includes a locomotive, carriage, rail car, rail motor, light rail vehicle, tram, light inspection vehicle, self-propelled infrastructure maintenance vehicle, trolley, wagon or monorail vehicle.
2
A vehicle designed to operate both on and off a railway track is rolling stock when the vehicle is being—
(a)operated or moved on a railway track; or
(b)maintained, repaired or modified in relation to the operation or movement of the vehicle on a railway track.

s 6 sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

amd 2018 No. 10 s 15

7Meaning of fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle

(1)For the purposes of this Law, a heavy vehicle is a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle if it is any of the following—
(a)a motor vehicle with a GVM of more than 12t;
(b)a combination with a GVM of more than 12t;
(c)a fatigue-regulated bus.
(2)However, subject to subsection (3), a heavy vehicle is not a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle for the purposes of this Law if it is any of the following—
(a)a motor vehicle that—
(i)is built, or has been modified, to operate primarily as a machine or implement off-road, on a road-related area, or on an area of road that is under construction; and
(ii)is not capable of carrying goods or passengers by road;

Examples for the purposes of paragraph (a)—

agricultural machine, backhoe, bulldozer, excavator, forklift, front-end loader, grader, motor vehicle registered under an Australian road law as a special purpose vehicle (type p)
(b)a motorhome.
(3)For the purposes of this Law, a truck, or a combination including a truck, that has a machine or implement attached to it is a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle
(a)if the GVM of the truck or combination with the attached machine or implement is more than 12t; and
(b)whether or not the truck or combination has been built or modified primarily to operate as a machine or implement off-road, on a road-related area, or on an area of road that is under construction.

Example for the purposes of subsection (3)—

a truck to which a crane or drilling rig is attached
(4)For the purposes of subsection (2)(b), a motorhome
(a)is a rigid or articulated motor vehicle or combination that is built, or has been modified, primarily for residential purposes; and
(b)does not include a motor vehicle that is merely a motor vehicle constructed with a sleeper berth.
(5)For the purposes of this section, the GVM of a combination is the total of the GVMs of the vehicles in the combination.

s 7 sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

8Meaning of road and road-related area

(1)For the purposes of this Law, a road is an area that is open to or used by the public and is developed for, or has as 1 of its uses, the driving or riding of motor vehicles.

Examples of areas that are roads—

bridges, cattle grids, culverts, ferries, fords, railway crossings, tunnels or viaducts
(2)For the purposes of this Law, a road-related area is—
(a)an area that divides a road; or
(b)a footpath, shared path or nature strip adjacent to a road; or
(c)a shoulder of a road; or
(d)a bicycle path or another area that is not a road and that is open to the public and designated for use by cyclists or animals; or
(e)an area that is not a road and that is open to, or used by, the public for driving, riding or parking motor vehicles.
(3)Also, an area is a road or road-related area for the purposes of this Law or a particular provision of this Law as applied in a participating jurisdiction, if the area is declared by a law of that jurisdiction to be a road or road-related area for the purposes of this Law or the particular provision.
(4)In this section—
bicycle path means an area open to the public that is designated for, or has as 1 of its main uses, use by riders of bicycles.
footpath means an area open to the public that is designated for, or has as 1 of its main uses, use by pedestrians.
shared path means an area open to the public that is designated for, or has as 1 of its main uses, use by both the riders of bicycles and pedestrians.
shoulder, of a road—
(a)includes any part of the road that is not designed to be used by motor vehicles in travelling along the road; and
(b)includes—
(i)for a kerbed road-any part of the kerb; and
(ii)for a sealed road-any unsealed part of the road, and any sealed part of the road outside an edge line on the road; but
(c)does not include a bicycle path, footpath or shared path.

s 8 sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

9Meaning of convicts and convicted of an offence

(1)For the purposes of this Law, a court convicts a person of an offence if the court finds the person guilty, or accepts the person’s plea of guilty, for the offence whether or not a conviction is recorded.
(2)For the purposes of this Law, a person is convicted of an offence if a court convicts the person of the offence.

s 9 sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

10Interpretation generally

Schedule 1 applies in relation to this Law.

s 10 sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

11References to laws includes references to instruments made under laws

(1)In this Law, a reference (either generally or specifically) to a law or a provision of a law (including this Law) includes a reference to—
(a)each instrument (including a regulation) made or in force under the law or provision; and
(b)each instrument made or in force under any such instrument.
(2)In this section—
law means a law of the Commonwealth or a State or Territory.

s 11 sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

12References to this Law as applied in a participating jurisdiction

In this Law, a reference to this Law as applied by an Act of a participating jurisdiction includes a reference to—
(a)a law that substantially corresponds to this Law enacted in a participating jurisdiction; and
(b)a law prescribed by the national regulations for the purposes of paragraph (a)(iii) of the definition participating jurisdiction in section 5, enacted in a participating jurisdiction.

s 12 sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

13References to road

A reference in this Law to a road includes a reference to a road-related area, unless a contrary intention appears in this Law.

s 13 sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

14[Repealed]

s 14 sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

om 2016 No. 65 s 8

15References to categories of heavy vehicles

If a provision of this Law provides for the exemption, authorisation, prescription or description of a category of heavy vehicles, heavy vehicles may, without limitation, be categorised for the purposes of the provision as being of any stated class, including, for example—
(a)a class of heavy vehicles used for a particular task; and
(b)a class of heavy vehicles used by particular persons or a particular class of persons; and
(c)a class of heavy vehicles with a particular configuration.

s 15 sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

Part 1.3 Application and operation of Law

pt hdg sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

16Extraterritorial operation of Law

It is the intention of the Parliament of this jurisdiction that the operation of this Law is, as far as possible, to include operation in relation to the following—
(a)things situated in or outside the territorial limits of this jurisdiction;
(b)acts, transactions and matters done, entered into or occurring in or outside the territorial limits of this jurisdiction;
(c)things, acts, transactions and matters (wherever situated, done, entered into or occurring) that would, apart from this Law, be governed or otherwise affected by the law of another jurisdiction.

s 16 sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

17Law binds the State

(1)This Law binds the State.
(2)No criminal liability attaches to the State itself (as distinct from its agents, instrumentalities, officers and employees) under this Law.

s 17 sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

18Relationship with primary work health and safety laws

(1)If a provision of this Law and a provision of the primary WHS Law deal with the same thing, and it is possible to comply with both provisions, a person must comply with both provisions.
(1A)However, to the extent it is not possible for the person to comply with both provisions, the person must comply with the provision of the primary WHS Law.
(2)Evidence of a relevant contravention of this Law is admissible in any proceeding for an offence against the primary WHS Law.
(3)Compliance with this Law, or with any requirement imposed under this Law, is not, in itself, evidence that a person has complied with the primary WHS Law or any regulations made under that Law or with a common law duty of care.
(3A)If an act, omission or circumstances constitute an offence under this Law and the primary WHS Law, the offender is not liable to be punished twice for the act, omission or circumstances.
(4)In this section—
primary WHS Law, for a participating jurisdiction, means the law that is declared by a law of that jurisdiction to be the primary WHS Law for the purposes of this Law.

Note—

‘WHS’ stands for workplace health and safety.

s 18 ins 2013 No. 4 s 12

amd 2016 No. 65 s 9

Part 1.4 Performance based standards

19Main purpose of this Part

(1)The main purposes of this Part and other associated provisions of this Law are to enable PBS vehicles that meet a particular performance level to operate (unless otherwise specified by the responsible Minister) on roads that are authorised to be used by PBS vehicles that meet or exceed that performance level.
(2)It is intended that authorisations or exemptions can be granted under this Law for PBS vehicles.

20Notification to road authority of PBS design approval

The Regulator must, as soon as practicable, notify the road authority for this jurisdiction, in writing, of a PBS design approval, together with a description of the significant features of the design to which the approval relates.

21Notification by responsible Minister of non-application or restricted application of PBS design approval

(1)The responsible Minister for this jurisdiction may notify the Regulator in writing that any heavy vehicle built to a design that is the subject of a PBS design approval—
(a)is not to be permitted to operate in this jurisdiction; or
(b)is only to be permitted to operate in this jurisdiction subject to stated conditions.
(2)A notice under this section can not be about—
(a)a particular person; or
(b)a particular heavy vehicle.
(3)A notice under this section is not valid for the purposes of this Law if it does not set out reasons for why it has been issued.
(4)On receiving a notice under this section, the Regulator must give a copy of the notice to the person who was given the PBS design approval.
(5)On receiving a notice under this section, the Regulator must accordingly impose on the PBS design approval—
(a)a condition giving effect to subsection (1)(a); or
(b)the stated conditions referred to in subsection (1)(b).

22Application for PBS design approval

(1)An application for a PBS design approval for the design of a type of heavy vehicle may be made to the Regulator.
(2)In assessing the application, the Regulator must have regard to—
(a)the approved guidelines relevant to the grant of PBS design approvals; and
(b)any performance based standards and assessment rules prescribed in the national regulations for the purposes of this paragraph; and
(c)the advice of the PBS Review Panel in relation to the application.
(3)Having assessed the application, the Regulator must approve or reject the application.
(4)The Regulator may approve the application subject to any condition the Regulator considers appropriate.
(5)The PBS design approval must state the conditions (if any) to which it is subject under subsection (4) or section 21(5).

23Application for PBS vehicle approval

(1)An application for a PBS vehicle approval for a heavy vehicle may be made to the Regulator.
(2)In assessing the application, the Regulator must have regard to—
(a)the approved guidelines relevant to the grant of PBS vehicle approvals; and
(b)any vehicle certification rules prescribed in the national regulations for the purposes of this paragraph; and
(c)the advice of the PBS Review Panel in relation to the application.
(3)Having assessed the application, the Regulator must approve or reject the application.
(4)The Regulator may approve the application subject to conditions included in the PBS design approval to which the heavy vehicle is built.
(5)The PBS vehicle approval must state the conditions (if any) to which—
(a)the PBS vehicle approval is subject under subsection (4); and
(b)the relevant PBS design approval is subject under section 21(5).
(5A)The PBS vehicle approval must state the performance level for the approval.
(6)A PBS vehicle approval can not be given for a class 1 heavy vehicle.

s 23 amd 2018 No. 18 s 7

24Exemption from stated vehicle standards

(1)A PBS vehicle approval for a heavy vehicle may provide that the vehicle is exempt from stated vehicle standards.
(2)Subsection (1) applies only to vehicle standards of a kind prescribed by the national regulations for the purposes of this section.

Note—

See section 60(6).

25Authorisation of different mass or dimension requirement

(1)A PBS vehicle approval for a heavy vehicle may provide that the vehicle is authorised to have a mass limit that exceeds a limit that would otherwise apply to the vehicle under a prescribed mass requirement.

Note—

See section 96(4).
(2)A PBS vehicle approval for a heavy vehicle may provide that the vehicle is authorised to have a dimension that exceeds a dimension limit that would otherwise apply to the vehicle under a prescribed dimension requirement.

Note—

See section 102(4).

25AKeeping copy of PBS vehicle approval while driving

(1)The driver of a PBS vehicle must keep a copy of the PBS vehicle approval in the driver’s possession while driving the PBS vehicle.

Maximum penalty—$3000.

(2)Each relevant party for a driver mentioned in subsection (1) must ensure the driver complies with subsection (1), unless the relevant party has a reasonable excuse.

Maximum penalty—$3000.

(3)In this section—
relevant party, for the driver of a PBS vehicle, means—
(a)an employer of the driver if the driver is an employed driver; or
(b)a prime contractor of the driver if the driver is a self-employed driver; or
(c)an operator of the vehicle if the driver is making a journey for the operator.

s 25A ins 2018 No. 18 s 8

26National regulations

The national regulations may provide for—
(a)the procedures for determining an application for a PBS design approval or a PBS vehicle approval, including, for example, providing for the time for making a decision on the application, the fee for the application and forms relating to the application; and
(b)the procedures for cancelling or modifying a PBS design approval or PBS vehicle approval; and
(c)performance based standards, and assessment and certification rules, relating to PBS design approvals or PBS vehicle approvals; and
(d)the appointment, functions and management of persons as PBS assessors and PBS vehicle certifiers.

Chapter 1A Safety duties

ch hdg ins 2016 No. 65 s 10

Part 1A.1 Principles

pt hdg ins 2016 No. 65 s 10

26A Principle of shared responsibility

(1)The safety of transport activities relating to a heavy vehicle is the shared responsibility of each party in the chain of responsibility for the vehicle.
(2)The level and nature of a party’s responsibility for a transport activity depends on—
(a)the functions the person performs or is required to perform, whether exclusively or occasionally, rather than—
(i)the person’s job title; or
(ii)the person’s functions described in a written contract; and
(b)the nature of the public risk created by the carrying out of the transport activity; and
(c)the party’s capacity to control, eliminate or minimise the risk.

s 26A ins 2016 No. 65 s 10

26BPrinciples applying to duties

(1)A person may have more than 1 duty because of the functions the person performs or is required to perform.
(2)More than 1 person can concurrently have a duty under this Law and each duty holder must comply with that duty to the standard required by this Law even if another duty holder has the same duty.
(3)If more than 1 person has a duty for the same matter, each person—
(a)retains responsibility for the person’s duty in relation to the matter; and
(b)must discharge the person’s duty to the extent to which the person—
(i)has the capacity to influence and control the matter; or
(ii)would have had that capacity but for an agreement or arrangement purporting to limit or remove that capacity.
(4)A duty under this Law may not be transferred to another person.

s 26B ins 2016 No. 65 s 10

Part 1A.2 Nature of duty

pt hdg ins 2016 No. 65 s 10

26CPrimary duty

(1)Each party in the chain of responsibility for a heavy vehicle must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of the party’s transport activities relating to the vehicle.
(2)Without limiting subsection (1), each party must, so far as is reasonably practicable—
(a)eliminate public risks and, to the extent it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate public risks, minimise the public risks; and
(b)ensure the party’s conduct does not directly or indirectly cause or encourage—
(i)the driver of the heavy vehicle to contravene this Law; or
(ii)the driver of the heavy vehicle to exceed a speed limit applying to the driver; or
(iii)another person, including another party in the chain of responsibility, to contravene this Law.
(3)For subsection (2)(b), the party’s conduct includes, for example—
(a)the party asking, directing or requiring another person to do, or not do, something; and
(b)the party entering into a contract—
(i)with another person for the other person to do, or not do, something; or
(ii)that purports to annul, exclude, restrict or otherwise change the effect of this Law.

s 26C ins 2016 No. 65 s 10

26DDuty of executive of legal entity

(1)If a legal entity has a safety duty, an executive of the legal entity must exercise due diligence to ensure the legal entity complies with the safety duty.

Maximum penalty—the penalty for a contravention of the provision by an individual.

(2)The executive may be convicted of an offence against subsection (1) even if the legal entity has not been proceeded against for, or convicted of, an offence relating to the safety duty.
(2A)Subsection (1) does not apply to an executive of the legal entity acting on a voluntary basis, whether or not the executive is reimbursed for the expenses incurred by the executive for carrying out activities for the legal entity.
(3)In this section—
due diligence includes taking reasonable steps—
(a)to acquire, and keep up to date, knowledge about the safe conduct of transport activities; and
(b)to gain an understanding of—
(i)the nature of the legal entity’s transport activities; and
(ii)the hazards and risks, including the public risk, associated with those activities; and
(c)to ensure the legal entity has, and uses, appropriate resources to eliminate or minimise those hazards and risks; and
(d)to ensure the legal entity has, and implements, processes—
(i)to eliminate or minimise those hazards and risks; and
(ii)for receiving, considering, and responding in a timely way to, information about those hazards and risks and any incidents; and
(iii)for complying with the legal entity’s safety duties; and
(e)to verify the resources and processes mentioned in paragraphs (c) and (d) are being provided, used and implemented.
executive, of a legal entity, means—
(a)for a corporation—an executive officer of the corporation; or
(b)for an unincorporated partnership—a partner in the partnership; or
(c)for an unincorporated body—a management member of the body.
legal entity means—
(a)a corporation; or
(b)an unincorporated partnership; or
(c)an unincorporated body.

s 26D ins 2016 No. 65 s 10

amd 2018 No. 10 s 16; 2018 No. 18 s 9

26EProhibited requests and contracts

(1)A person must not ask, direct or require (directly or indirectly) the driver of a heavy vehicle or a party in the chain of responsibility to do or not do something the person knows, or ought reasonably to know, would have the effect of causing the driver—
(a)to exceed a speed limit applying to the driver; or
(b)to drive a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle while impaired by fatigue; or
(c)to drive a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle while in breach of the driver’s work and rest hours option; or
(d)to drive a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle in breach of another law in order to avoid driving while impaired by fatigue or while in breach of the driver’s work and rest hours option.

Maximum penalty—$10000.

(2)A person must not enter into a contract with the driver of a heavy vehicle or a party in the chain of responsibility that the person knows, or ought reasonably to know, would have the effect of causing the driver, or would encourage the driver, or would encourage a party in the chain of responsibility to cause the driver—
(a)to exceed a speed limit applying to the driver; or
(b)to drive a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle while impaired by fatigue; or
(c)to drive a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle while in breach of the driver’s work and rest hours option; or
(d)to drive a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle in breach of another law in order to avoid driving while impaired by fatigue or while in breach of the driver’s work and rest hours option.

Maximum penalty—$10000.

Note—

See section 632 for the matters a court may consider when deciding whether a person ought reasonably to have known something.

s 26E ins 2016 No. 65 s 10

Part 1A.3 Failing to comply with duty

pt hdg ins 2016 No. 65 s 10

26FCategory 1 offence

(1)A person commits an offence if—
(a)the person has a duty under section 26C; and
(b)the person, without a reasonable excuse, engages in conduct related to the duty that exposes an individual to a risk of death or serious injury or illness; and
(c)the person is reckless as to the risk.

Maximum penalty—

(a)if an individual commits the offence—$300000 or 5 years imprisonment or both; or
(b)if a corporation commits the offence—$3000000.

(2)The prosecution bears the burden of proving that the conduct was engaged in without reasonable excuse.

s 26F ins 2016 No. 65 s 10

26GCategory 2 offence

A person commits an offence if—
(a)the person has a duty under section 26C; and
(b)the person contravenes the duty; and
(c)the person’s contravention exposes an individual, or class of individuals, to a risk of death or serious injury or illness.

Maximum penalty—

(a)if an individual commits the offence—$150000; or
(b)if a corporation commits the offence—$1500000.

s 26G ins 2016 No. 65 s 10

26HCategory 3 offence

A person commits an offence if—
(a)the person has a duty under section 26C; and
(b)the person contravenes the duty.

Maximum penalty—

(a)if an individual commits the offence—$50000; or
(b)if a corporation commits the offence—$500000.

s 26H ins 2016 No. 65 s 10

Chapter 2 [Repealed]

ch hdg never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

Part 2.1 [Repealed]

pt hdg never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

27[Repealed]

s 27 never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

Part 2.2 [Repealed]

pt hdg never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

Division 1 [Repealed]

div hdg never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

28[Repealed]

s 28 never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

29[Repealed]

s 29 never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

Division 2 [Repealed]

div hdg never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

30[Repealed]

s 30 never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

Division 3 [Repealed]

div hdg never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

31[Repealed]

s 31 never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

32[Repealed]

s 32 never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

33[Repealed]

s 33 never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

34[Repealed]

s 34 never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

35[Repealed]

s 35 never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

36[Repealed]

s 36 never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

37[Repealed]

s 37 never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

38[Repealed]

s 38 never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

39[Repealed]

s 38 never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

Division 4 [Repealed]

div hdg never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

Subdivision 1 [Repealed]

sdiv hdg never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

40[Repealed]

s 40 never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

41[Repealed]

s 41 never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

42[Repealed]

s 42 never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

43[Repealed]

s 43 never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

44[Repealed]

s 44 never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

45[Repealed]

s 45 amd 2016 No. 65 s 118

never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

46[Repealed]

s 46 amd 2016 No. 65 s 119

never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

Subdivision 2 [Repealed]

sdiv hdg never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

47[Repealed]

s 47 never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

Part 2.3 [Repealed]

pt hdg never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

48[Repealed]

s 48 never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

Part 2.4 [Repealed]

pt hdg never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

49[Repealed]

s 49 never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

50[Repealed]

s 50 never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

51[Repealed]

s 51 never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

52[Repealed]

s 52 never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

Part 2.5 [Repealed]

pt hdg never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

53[Repealed]

s 53 never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

54[Repealed]

s 54 never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

55[Repealed]

s 55 never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

Part 2.6 [Repealed]

pt hdg never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

56[Repealed]

s 56 never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

57[Repealed]

s 57 never proclaimed into force and om 2018 No. 10 s 17

Chapter 3 Vehicle operations—standards and safety

Part 3.1 Preliminary

58Main purpose of Ch 3

The main purpose of this Chapter is to ensure heavy vehicles used on roads are of a standard and in a condition that prevents or minimises safety risks.

Part 3.2 Compliance with heavy vehicle standards

Division 1 Requirements

59Heavy vehicle standards

(1)The national regulations may prescribe vehicle standards (heavy vehicle standards) with which heavy vehicles must comply to use roads.
(2)Without limiting subsection (1), the heavy vehicle standards may include requirements applying to—
(a)heavy vehicles; or
(b)components of heavy vehicles, including component vehicles that are not heavy vehicles; or
(c)equipment of heavy vehicles.
(3)The national regulations may prescribe exemptions or different requirements for component vehicles that are not heavy vehicles.

60Compliance with heavy vehicle standards

(1)A person must not use, or permit to be used, on a road a heavy vehicle that contravenes a heavy vehicle standard applying to the vehicle.

Maximum penalty—

(a)$3000, except as provided in paragraph (b); or
(b)$6000, for contravention of a heavy vehicle standard relating to a speed limiter.

(2)Subsection (1) does not apply to—
(a)a heavy vehicle that—
(i)is on a journey to a place for the repair of the vehicle, or any of its components or equipment, and is travelling on the most direct or convenient route to that place from the place where the journey began; and

Note for the purposes of subparagraph (i)—

The subparagraph does not operate to exempt a person from complying with the requirements of a vehicle defect notice applying to the vehicle.
(ii)does not have any goods in it; and
(iii)is used on a road in a way that does not pose a safety risk; or
(b)a heavy vehicle that—
(i)is on a road for testing or analysis of the vehicle, or any of its components or equipment, by an approved vehicle examiner for the purpose of checking its compliance with the heavy vehicle standards; and
(ii)does not have any passengers in it; and
(iii)does not have any goods in it, unless—
(A)it has a quantity of goods that is necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the testing or analysis; and
(B)without limiting subparagraph (iv), there are no reasonable grounds to believe the vehicle laden with those goods poses a significant safety risk; and
(iv)is used on a road in a way that does not pose a safety risk.
(3)A person does not commit an offence against subsection (1) in relation to a heavy vehicle’s noncompliance with a heavy vehicle standard if, and to the extent, the noncompliance relates to a noncompliance known to the registration authority for the heavy vehicle at the time the registration authority registered the vehicle under an Australian road law.
(4)For the purposes of subsection (3), the registration authority is taken to have known of the heavy vehicle’s noncompliance with a heavy vehicle standard at the time the registration authority registered the vehicle if the noncompliance was mentioned in—
(a)an operations plate that was installed on the vehicle at the time it was registered; or
(b)a certificate of approved operations issued for the vehicle and in force at the time the vehicle was registered; or
(c)a document obtained by the registration authority under an Australian road law in connection with the registering of the vehicle.
(5)Subsection (3) applies only if the heavy vehicle, and its use on a road, complies with the conditions of the heavy vehicle’s registration under an Australian road law.
(6)If a PBS vehicle is exempt from vehicle standards stated in its PBS vehicle approval but it complies with the other applicable vehicle standards, the vehicle is regarded for the purposes of this Law as complying with the vehicle standards applying to the vehicle.

Note—

See also section 81(4) to (6) for the effect of a vehicle standards exemption on compliance with subsection (1).

s 60 amd 2018 No. 10 s 18

Division 2 Exemptions by Commonwealth Gazette notice

61Regulator’s power to exempt category of heavy vehicles from compliance with heavy vehicle standard

(1)The Regulator may, by Commonwealth Gazette notice complying with section 65, exempt, for a period of not more than 5 years, a category of heavy vehicles from the requirement to comply with a heavy vehicle standard.
(2)An exemption under subsection (1) is a vehicle standards exemption (notice).

62Restriction on grant of vehicle standards exemption (notice)

(1)The Regulator may grant a vehicle standards exemption (notice) for a category of heavy vehicles only if—
(a)1 of the following applies—
(i)the Regulator is satisfied complying with the heavy vehicle standard to which the exemption is to apply would prevent heavy vehicles of that category from operating in the way in which, or for the purpose for which, the vehicles were built or modified;
(ii)the Regulator is satisfied heavy vehicles of that category are experimental vehicles, prototypes or similar vehicles that could not reasonably be expected to comply with the heavy vehicle standard to which the exemption is to apply;
(iii)the exemption has been requested by a road authority for a participating jurisdiction for the use of heavy vehicles of that category in that jurisdiction;
(iv)the category of heavy vehicles consists of heavy vehicles that, immediately before the commencement of this section in a participating jurisdiction, were not required to comply with a similar standard at that time and were—
(A)registered under an Australian road law of that jurisdiction and not required to comply with a similar standard at that time; or
(B)operating under an unregistered heavy vehicle permit or exemption from registration (however described) granted or issued under an Australian road law of that jurisdiction;
(v)the category of heavy vehicles consists of heavy vehicles referred to in the national regulations for the purposes of this subparagraph; and
(b)the Regulator is satisfied the use of heavy vehicles of the category to which the exemption is to apply on a road under the exemption will not pose a significant safety risk.
(2)In deciding whether to grant a vehicle standards exemption (notice), the Regulator must have regard to the approved guidelines for granting vehicle standards exemptions.
(3)The national regulations may prescribe additional requirements or restrictions regarding the granting of a vehicle standards exemption (notice).

63Conditions of vehicle standards exemption (notice)

A vehicle standards exemption (notice) may be subject to any conditions the Regulator considers appropriate, including, for example—
(a)conditions about protecting road infrastructure from damage; and
(b)a condition that the driver of a heavy vehicle who is driving the vehicle under the exemption must keep in the driver’s possession a copy of—
(i)the Commonwealth Gazette notice for the exemption; or
(ii)an information sheet about the exemption published by the Regulator on the Regulator’s website.

64Period for which vehicle standards exemption (notice) applies

A vehicle standards exemption (notice)—
(a)takes effect—
(i)when the Commonwealth Gazette notice for the exemption is published; or
(ii)if a later time is stated in the Commonwealth Gazette notice, at the later time; and
(b)applies for the period stated in the Commonwealth Gazette notice.

65Requirements about Commonwealth Gazette notice

(1)A Commonwealth Gazette notice for a vehicle standards exemption (notice) must state the following—
(a)the category of heavy vehicles to which the exemption applies;
(b)the heavy vehicle standard to which the exemption applies;
(c)the conditions of the exemption;
(d)the period for which the exemption applies.
(2)The Regulator must publish a copy of the Commonwealth Gazette notice on the Regulator’s website.

66Amendment or cancellation of vehicle standards exemption (notice)

(1)Each of the following is a ground for amending or cancelling a vehicle standards exemption (notice)—
(a)the use of heavy vehicles on a road under the exemption has caused, or is likely to cause, a significant safety risk;
(b)since the exemption was granted, there has been a change in circumstances that were relevant to the Regulator’s decision to grant the exemption and, had the changed circumstances existed when the exemption was granted, the Regulator would not have granted the exemption, or would have granted the exemption subject to conditions or different conditions.
(2)If the Regulator considers a ground exists to amend or cancel a vehicle standards exemption (notice), the Regulator may amend or cancel the exemption by complying with subsections (3) to (5).
(3)The Regulator must publish a public notice—
(a)stating that the Regulator believes a ground mentioned in subsection (1)(a) or (b) for amending or cancelling the exemption exists; and
(b)outlining the facts and circumstances forming the basis for the belief; and
(c)stating the action the Regulator is proposing to take under this section (the proposed action); and
(d)inviting persons who will be affected by the proposed action to make, within a stated time of at least 14 days after the Commonwealth Gazette notice is published, written representations about why the proposed action should not be taken.
(4)If, after considering all written representations made under subsection (3)(d), the Regulator still considers a ground exists to take the proposed action, the Regulator may—
(a)if the proposed action was to amend the exemption—amend the exemption, including, for example, by imposing additional conditions on the exemption, in a way that is not substantially different from the proposed action; or
(b)if the proposed action was to cancel the exemption—
(i)amend the exemption, including, for example, by imposing additional conditions on the exemption; or
(ii)cancel the exemption.
(5)The Regulator must publish a public notice of the amendment or cancellation.
(6)The amendment or cancellation takes effect—
(a)28 days after the Commonwealth Gazette notice is published under subsection (5); or
(b)if a later time is stated in the Commonwealth Gazette notice, at the later time.

s 66 amd 2016 No. 65 s 120

67Immediate suspension on Regulator’s initiative

(1)This section applies if the Regulator considers it is necessary to suspend a vehicle standards exemption (notice) immediately to prevent or minimise serious harm to public safety or significant damage to road infrastructure.
(2)The Regulator may, by public notice, immediately suspend the exemption until the earliest of the following—
(a)the end of 56 days after the day the public notice is published;
(b)the Regulator publishes a notice under section 66(5) and the amendment or cancellation takes effect under section 66(6);
(c)the Regulator cancels the suspension by public notice.
(4)The suspension, and (where relevant) the cancellation of the suspension, takes effect immediately after the Commonwealth Gazette notice is published under subsection (3).
(5)This section applies despite section 66.

s 67 amd 2016 No. 65 s 121

Division 3 Exemptions by permit

68Regulator’s power to exempt particular heavy vehicle from compliance with heavy vehicle standard

(1)The Regulator may, by giving a person a permit as mentioned in section 73, exempt a heavy vehicle from compliance with a heavy vehicle standard for a period of not more than 3 years.
(2)An exemption under subsection (1) is a vehicle standards exemption (permit).
(3)A vehicle standards exemption (permit) may apply to 1 or more heavy vehicles.

69Application for vehicle standards exemption (permit)

(1)A person may apply to the Regulator for a vehicle standards exemption (permit).
(2)The application must be—
(a)in the approved form; and
(b)accompanied by the prescribed fee for the application.
(3)The Regulator may, by notice given to the applicant for a vehicle standards exemption (permit), require the applicant to give the Regulator any additional information the Regulator reasonably requires to decide the application.

70Restriction on grant of vehicle standards exemption (permit)

(1)The Regulator may grant a vehicle standards exemption (permit) for a heavy vehicle only if—
(a)1 of the following applies—
(i)the Regulator is satisfied complying with the heavy vehicle standard to which the exemption is to apply would prevent the heavy vehicle from operating in the way in which, or for the purpose for which, the vehicle was built or modified;
(ii)the Regulator is satisfied the heavy vehicle is an experimental vehicle, prototype or similar vehicle that could not reasonably be expected to comply with the heavy vehicle standard to which the exemption is to apply;
(iii)the heavy vehicle, immediately before the commencement of this section in a participating jurisdiction, was not required to comply with a similar standard at that time and was—
(A)registered under an Australian road law of that jurisdiction; or
(B)operating under an unregistered heavy vehicle permit or exemption from registration (however described) granted or issued under an Australian road law of that jurisdiction; and
(b)the Regulator is satisfied the use of the heavy vehicle on a road under the exemption will not pose a significant safety risk.
(2)In deciding whether to grant a vehicle standards exemption (permit), the Regulator must have regard to the approved guidelines for granting vehicle standards exemptions.

71Conditions of vehicle standards exemption (permit)

A vehicle standards exemption (permit) may be subject to any conditions the Regulator considers appropriate, including, for example, a condition about protecting road infrastructure from damage.

72Period for which vehicle standards exemption (permit) applies

(1)A vehicle standards exemption (permit) applies for the period stated in the permit for the exemption.
(2)The period may be less than the period sought by the applicant for the vehicle standards exemption (permit).

73Permit for vehicle standards exemption (permit) etc.

(1)If the Regulator grants a vehicle standards exemption (permit) to a person, the Regulator must give the person—
(a)a permit for the exemption; and
(b)if the Regulator has imposed conditions on the exemption under section 71 or has granted the exemption for a period less than the period of not more than 3 years sought by the person—an information notice for the decision to impose the conditions or grant the exemption for the shorter period.
(2)A permit for a vehicle standards exemption (permit) must state the following—
(a)the name of the person to whom the permit is given;
(b)each heavy vehicle to which the exemption applies, including the registration number of the vehicle if known when the permit is given;
(c)the heavy vehicle standard to which the exemption applies;
(d)the conditions of the exemption;
(e)the period for which the exemption applies.

74Refusal of application for vehicle standards exemption (permit)

If the Regulator refuses an application for a vehicle standards exemption (permit), the Regulator must give the applicant an information notice for the decision to refuse the application.

75Amendment or cancellation of vehicle standards exemption (permit) on application by permit holder

(1)The holder of a permit for a vehicle standards exemption (permit) may apply to the Regulator for an amendment or cancellation of the exemption.
(2)The application must—
(a)be in the approved form; and
(b)be accompanied by the prescribed fee for the application; and
(c)if the application is for an amendment—state clearly the amendment sought and the reasons for the amendment; and
(d)be accompanied by the permit.
(3)The Regulator may, by notice given to the applicant, require the applicant to give the Regulator any additional information the Regulator reasonably requires to decide the application.
(4)The Regulator must decide the application as soon as practicable after receiving it.
(5)If the Regulator decides to grant the application—
(a)the Regulator must give the applicant notice of the decision; and
(b)the amendment or cancellation takes effect—
(i)when notice of the decision is given to the applicant; or
(ii)if a later time is stated in the notice, at the later time; and
(c)if the Regulator amended the exemption, the Regulator must give the applicant a replacement permit for the exemption as amended.
(6)If the Regulator decides not to amend or cancel the exemption as sought by the applicant, the Regulator must—
(a)give the applicant an information notice for the decision; and
(b)return the permit for the exemption to the applicant.

76Amendment or cancellation of vehicle standards exemption (permit) on Regulator’s initiative

(1)Each of the following is a ground for amending or cancelling a vehicle standards exemption (permit)—
(a)the exemption was granted because of a document or representation that was—
(i)false or misleading; or
(ii)obtained or made in an improper way;
(b)the holder of the permit for the exemption has contravened a condition of the exemption;
(c)the use of a heavy vehicle on a road under the exemption has caused, or is likely to cause, a significant safety risk;
(d)since the exemption was granted, there has been change in the circumstances that were relevant to the Regulator’s decision to grant the exemption and, had the changed circumstances existed when the exemption was granted, the Regulator would not have granted the exemption, or would have granted the exemption subject to conditions or different conditions.
(2)If the Regulator considers a ground exists to amend or cancel a vehicle standards exemption (permit) (the proposed action), the Regulator must give the holder of the permit for the exemption a notice—
(a)stating the proposed action; and
(b)stating the ground for the proposed action; and
(c)outlining the facts and circumstances forming the basis for the ground; and
(d)if the proposed action is to amend the exemption (including a condition of the exemption)—stating the proposed amendment; and
(e)inviting the holder to make, within a stated time of at least 14 days after the notice is given to the holder, written representations about why the proposed action should not be taken.
(3)If, after considering all written representations made under subsection (2)(e), the Regulator still considers a ground exists to take the proposed action, the Regulator may—
(a)if the proposed action was to amend the exemption—amend the exemption, including, for example, by imposing additional conditions on the exemption, in a way that is not substantially different from the proposed action; or
(b)if the proposed action was to cancel the exemption—
(i)amend the exemption, including, for example, by imposing additional conditions on the exemption; or
(ii)cancel the exemption.
(4)The Regulator must give the holder an information notice for the decision to amend or cancel the exemption.
(5)The amendment or cancellation takes effect—
(a)when the information notice is given to the holder; or
(b)if a later time is stated in the information notice, at the later time.

77Immediate suspension on Regulator’s initiative

(1)This section applies if the Regulator considers it is necessary to suspend a vehicle standards exemption (permit) immediately to prevent or minimise serious harm to public safety or significant damage to road infrastructure.
(2)The Regulator may, by notice (immediate suspension notice) given to the person to whom the permit was given, immediately suspend the exemption until the earliest of the following—
(a)the Regulator gives the person an information notice under section 76(4) and the amendment or cancellation takes effect under section 76(5);
(b)the Regulator cancels the suspension;
(c)the end of 56 days after the day the immediate suspension notice is given to the person.
(3)This section applies despite sections 75 and 76.

78Minor amendment of vehicle standards exemption (permit)

The Regulator may, by notice given to the holder of a permit for a vehicle standards exemption (permit), amend the exemption in a minor respect—
(a)for a formal or clerical reason; or
(b)in another way that does not adversely affect the holder’s interests.

79Return of permit

(1)If a person’s vehicle standards exemption (permit) is amended or cancelled, the Regulator may, by notice, require the person to return the person’s permit for the exemption to the Regulator.
(2)The person must comply with the notice within 7 days after the notice is given to the person or, if a longer period is stated in the notice, within the longer period.

Maximum penalty—$4000.

(3)If the exemption has been amended, the Regulator must give the person a replacement permit for the exemption as amended.

80Replacement of defaced etc. permit

(1)If a person’s permit for a vehicle standards exemption (permit) is defaced, destroyed, lost or stolen, the person must, as soon as reasonably practicable after becoming aware of the matter, apply to the Regulator for a replacement permit.

Maximum penalty—$4000.

(2)If the Regulator is satisfied the permit has been defaced, destroyed, lost or stolen, the Regulator must give the person a replacement permit as soon as practicable.
(3)If the Regulator decides not to give the person a replacement permit, the Regulator must give the person an information notice for the decision.
(4)Subsection (1) does not apply to a vehicle standards exemption (permit) for which an application to cancel the permit has been made and is pending determination.

Division 4 Operating under vehicle standards exemption

81Contravening condition of vehicle standards exemption

(1)A person must not contravene a condition of a vehicle standards exemption.

Maximum penalty—$4000.

(2)A person must not use, or permit to be used, on a road a heavy vehicle that contravenes a condition of a vehicle standards exemption applying to the vehicle.

Maximum penalty—$4000.

(3)A person must not use a heavy vehicle, or permit a heavy vehicle to be used, on a road in a way that contravenes a condition of a vehicle standards exemption applying to the vehicle.

Maximum penalty—$4000.

(4)A person does not commit an offence against this Law in relation to a heavy vehicle contravening a heavy vehicle standard if—
(a)the heavy vehicle is exempt, under a vehicle standards exemption, from compliance with the heavy vehicle standard; and
(b)the heavy vehicle, and its use on a road, complies with the conditions of the exemption.
(5)However, if a person commits a condition offence in relation to the exemption—
(a)the exemption does not operate in the person’s favour while the contravention constituting the offence continues; and
(b)the exemption must be disregarded in deciding whether the person has committed an offence in relation to a contravention of a heavy vehicle standard applying to a heavy vehicle.
(6)If, because of the operation of subsection (5), a person commits an offence against a provision of this Law (the other offence provision) in relation to a heavy vehicle standard to which the exemption applies, the person—
(a)may be charged with the condition offence or an offence against the other offence provision; but
(b)must not be charged with both offences.
(7)Subsection (1) does not apply to a condition mentioned in section 82(1).
(8)In this section—
condition offence means an offence against subsection (1), (2) or (3).

s 81 amd 2015 No. 12 s 67 sch

82Keeping relevant document while driving under vehicle standards exemption (notice)

(1)This section applies if a vehicle standards exemption (notice) is subject to the condition that the driver of a heavy vehicle who is driving the vehicle under the exemption must keep a relevant document in the driver’s possession.
(2)A driver of the heavy vehicle who is driving the vehicle under the vehicle standards exemption (notice) must comply with the condition.

Maximum penalty—$3000.

(3)Each relevant party for a driver mentioned in subsection (2) must ensure the driver complies with subsection (2), unless the relevant party has a reasonable excuse.

Maximum penalty—$3000.

(7)In this section—
relevant document, for a vehicle standards exemption (notice), means a copy of—
(a)the Commonwealth Gazette notice for the exemption; or
(b)an information sheet about the exemption published by the Regulator on the Regulator’s website.
relevant party, for the driver of a heavy vehicle, means—
(a)an employer of the driver if the driver is an employed driver; or
(b)a prime contractor of the driver if the driver is a self-employed driver; or
(c)an operator of the vehicle if the driver is making a journey for the operator.

s 82 amd 2016 No. 65 s 13

83Keeping copy of permit while driving under vehicle standards exemption (permit)

(1)The driver of a heavy vehicle who is driving the vehicle under a vehicle standards exemption (permit) must keep a copy of the permit for the exemption in the driver’s possession.

Maximum penalty—$3000.

(2)If the driver of a heavy vehicle is driving the vehicle under a vehicle standards exemption (permit) granted to a relevant party for the driver and the relevant party has given the driver a copy of a permit for the purpose of subsection (1), the driver must, as soon as reasonably practicable, return the copy to the relevant party if the driver stops working for the relevant party.

Maximum penalty—$3000.

(3)Each relevant party for a driver mentioned in subsection (2) must ensure the driver complies with subsection (2), unless the relevant party has a reasonable excuse.

Maximum penalty—$3000.

(7)In this section—
relevant party, for the driver of a heavy vehicle, means—
(a)an employer of the driver if the driver is an employed driver; or
(b)a prime contractor of the driver if the driver is a self-employed driver; or
(c)an operator of the vehicle if the driver is making a journey for the operator.

s 83 amd 2016 No. 65 s 14

Part 3.3 Modifying heavy vehicles

84Definition for Pt 3.3

In this Part—
modification, of a heavy vehicle, means—
(a)the addition of a component to, or the removal of a component from, the vehicle; or
(b)a change to the vehicle from the manufacturer’s specification for the vehicle;
but does not include a modification to the vehicle that has been approved under the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 of the Commonwealth.

s 84 sub 2015 No. 12 s 5

85Modifying heavy vehicle requires approval

(1)A person must not modify a heavy vehicle unless the modification has been approved by—
(a)an approved vehicle examiner under section 86; or
(b)the Regulator under section 87.

Maximum penalty—$3000.

(2)A person must not use, or permit to be used, on a road a heavy vehicle that has been modified unless the modification has been approved by—
(a)an approved vehicle examiner under section 86; or
(b)the Regulator under section 87.

Maximum penalty—$3000.

(3)This section does not apply to a modification that complies with a code of practice prescribed by the national regulations for the purposes of this section, section 86 or 87 that expressly states that a modification of that type does not require approval.

s 85 amd 2015 No. 12 s 6

86Approval of modifications by approved vehicle examiners

(1)An approved vehicle examiner may, if authorised to do so under the national regulations, approve a modification of a heavy vehicle if, and only if, the modification complies with a code of practice prescribed by the national regulations for the purposes of this section.
(2)If an approved vehicle examiner approves a modification of a heavy vehicle, the examiner must—
(a)give a certificate approving the modification, in the approved form, to—
(i)the registered operator of the vehicle; or
(ii)if there is no registered operator of the vehicle—an owner of the vehicle; and
(b)ensure a plate or label that complies with subsection (3) is fitted or affixed to a conspicuous part of the vehicle.

Maximum penalty—$3000.

(3)For the purposes of subsection (2)(b), a plate or label complies with this subsection if—
(a)it is of a type approved by the Regulator; and
(b)it is stamped, engraved or marked so as to display information that relates to the modification and that is—
(i)approved by the Regulator; or
(ii)prescribed by the national regulations for the purposes of this section.

87Approval of modification by Regulator

(1)The Regulator may approve a modification of a heavy vehicle if the Regulator is satisfied—
(a)the use on a road of the modified vehicle will not pose a significant safety risk; and
(b)as to either or both of the following (as relevant)—
(i)the modified vehicle will comply with applicable noise and emission standards prescribed by national regulations, except as provided by subparagraph (ii);
(ii)the Regulator has exempted the modified vehicle from a noise or emission standard referred to in subparagraph (i) and the Regulator is satisfied that the modified vehicle complies with the requirements of the exemption.
(2)Subsection (1) applies whether or not the modification complies with a code of practice prescribed by the national regulations prescribed for the purposes of this section.
(3)If the Regulator approves a modification of a heavy vehicle, the Regulator must—
(a)give a certificate approving the modification, in the approved form, to—
(i)the registered operator of the vehicle; or
(ii)if there is no registered operator of the vehicle—an owner of the vehicle; and
(b)ensure a plate or label that complies with subsection (4) is fitted or affixed to a conspicuous part of the vehicle.
(4)For the purposes of subsection (3)(b), a plate or label complies with this subsection if—
(a)it is of a type approved by the Regulator; and
(b)it is stamped, engraved or marked so as to display information that relates to the modification and that is—
(i)approved by the Regulator; or
(ii)prescribed by the national regulations for the purposes of this section.

87APerson must not tamper with plate or label

(1)A person must not tamper with a plate or label fitted or affixed to a heavy vehicle under section 86(2) or 87(3).

Maximum penalty—$3000.

(2)In a proceeding for an offence against subsection (1), it is a defence for the person to prove that the tampering was done with the written approval of the Regulator.
(3)In this section—
tamper means alter, damage, remove or otherwise interfere with.

s 87A ins 2015 No. 12 s 7

88National regulations for heavy vehicle modification

The national regulations may provide for any matter relating to the modification of heavy vehicles.

Part 3.4 Other offences

89Safety requirement

(1)A person must not use, or permit to be used, on a road a heavy vehicle that is unsafe.

Maximum penalty—$6000.

(2)For the purposes of subsection (1), a heavy vehicle is unsafe only if the condition of the vehicle, or any of its components or equipment—
(a)makes the use of the vehicle unsafe; or
(b)endangers public safety.
(3)Subsection (1) does not apply to a heavy vehicle for which a vehicle defect notice is in force and that is being moved in accordance with the terms of the notice.

90Requirement about properly operating emission control system

(1)A person must not use, or permit to be used, on a road a heavy vehicle that is not fitted with an emission control system for each relevant emission if and as required by an applicable heavy vehicle standard.

Maximum penalty—$3000.

(2)A person must not use, or permit to be used, on a road a heavy vehicle fitted with an emission control system that is not operating in accordance with the manufacturer’s design.

Maximum penalty—$3000.

(3)A person must not use, or permit to be used, on a road a heavy vehicle fitted with an emission control system if the operation of the system results in a failure to comply with an applicable heavy vehicle standard (whether in relation to the vehicle or in relation to the system).

Maximum penalty—$3000.

(4)Subsections (2) and (3) do not apply to a heavy vehicle that—
(a)is on a journey to a place for the repair of the emission control system or any of the vehicle’s components or equipment that affect the operation of the emission control system; and
(b)is travelling on the most direct or convenient route to that place from the place where the journey began.
(5)The national regulations may prescribe testing standards for relevant emissions from heavy vehicles.
(6)In this section—
emission control system means a device or system fitted to a heavy vehicle that reduces the emission of a relevant emission from the vehicle.

91Person must not tamper with emission control system fitted to heavy vehicle

(1)A person must not tamper with an emission control system fitted to a heavy vehicle.

Maximum penalty—$10000.

(2)An operator of a heavy vehicle must not use or permit the vehicle to be used on a road if the vehicle is fitted with an emission control system that the operator knows or ought reasonably to know has been tampered with in contravention of subsection (1).

Maximum penalty—$10000.

(3)Subsection (1) does not apply to—
(a)conduct associated with repairing a malfunctioning emission control system or maintaining an emission control system; or
(b)an authorised officer when exercising functions under this Law.
(4)Subsection (2) does not apply to a heavy vehicle that—
(a)is on a journey to a place for the repair of the emission control system or any of the vehicle’s components or equipment that affect the operation of the emission control system; and
(b)is travelling on the most direct or convenient route to that place from the place where the journey began.
(7)In this section—
emission control system means a device or system fitted to a heavy vehicle that reduces the emission of a relevant emission from the vehicle.
tamper, with an emission control system fitted to a heavy vehicle, means alter, damage, remove, override or otherwise interfere with—
(a)the system in a way that renders the system totally ineffective or less effective than as provided by an applicable heavy vehicle standard or (in the absence of an applicable heavy vehicle standard) as designed; or
(b)the vehicle or any component of the vehicle in a way that renders the system totally ineffective or less effective than as provided by an applicable heavy vehicle standard or (in the absence of an applicable heavy vehicle standard) as designed.

s 91 amd 2016 No. 65 s 15

92Display of warning signs required by heavy vehicle standards on vehicles to which the requirement does not apply

(1)This section applies if, under the heavy vehicle standards, a warning sign is required to be displayed on a heavy vehicle of a particular type, size or configuration.
(2)A person must not use, or permit to be used, on a road a heavy vehicle that has the warning sign displayed on it unless the vehicle is of the particular type, size or configuration.

Maximum penalty—$3000.

(3)In this section—
warning sign means a sign indicating that the vehicle to which it is attached is of a particular type, size or configuration.

Example of warning sign—

A sign (consisting of 1 or more parts) showing the words ‘LONG VEHICLE’ or ‘ROAD TRAIN’.

93Person must not tamper with speed limiter fitted to heavy vehicle

(1)A person must not tamper with a speed limiter that is required under an Australian road law or by order of an Australian court to be, and is, fitted to a heavy vehicle.

Maximum penalty—$10000.

(2)A person must not fit, or direct the fitting of, a speed limiter to a heavy vehicle in circumstances where the person knows or ought reasonably to know that the speed limiter has been tampered with in such a way that, had it been fitted to the vehicle at the time of the tampering, an offence would have been committed against subsection (1).

Maximum penalty—$10000.

(3)An operator of a heavy vehicle must not use or permit the vehicle to be used on a road if the operator knows, or ought reasonably to know, that a speed limiter fitted to the vehicle, as required under an Australian road law or by order of an Australian court, has been tampered with in contravention of subsection (1) or fitted to the vehicle in contravention of subsection (2).

Maximum penalty—$10000.

(4)Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to—
(a)conduct associated with repairing a malfunctioning speed limiter or maintaining a speed limiter; or
(b)an authorised officer when exercising functions under this Law.
(5)Subsection (3) does not apply to a heavy vehicle that—
(a)is on a journey to a place for the repair of the speed limiter or any of the vehicle’s components or equipment that affect the operation of the speed limiter; and
(b)is travelling on the most direct or convenient route to that place from the place where the journey began.
(6)Subsection (3) applies whether or not a person has been proceeded against or found guilty of an offence against subsection (1) or (2) in relation to the tampering.
(9)In this section—
speed limiter means a device or system that is used to limit the maximum road speed of a heavy vehicle to which it is fitted and that complies with any applicable heavy vehicle standard.
tamper, with a speed limiter fitted to a heavy vehicle, means alter, damage, remove, override or otherwise interfere with the speed limiter in a way that—
(a)enables the vehicle to be driven at a speed higher than the speed permitted by an applicable heavy vehicle standard; or
(b)alters, or may alter, any information recorded by the speed limiter; or
(c)results, or may result, in the speed limiter recording inaccurate information.

s 93 amd 2016 No. 65 s 16

Chapter 4 Vehicle operations—mass, dimension and loading

Part 4.1 Preliminary

94Main purposes of Ch 4

(1)The main purposes of this Chapter are—
(a)to improve public safety by decreasing risks to public safety caused by excessively loaded or excessively large heavy vehicles; and
(b)to minimise any adverse impact of excessively loaded or excessively large heavy vehicles on road infrastructure or public amenity.
(2)The purposes are achieved by—
(a)imposing mass requirements for heavy vehicles, particular components of heavy vehicles, and loads on heavy vehicles; and
(b)imposing dimension requirements on heavy vehicles including on the vehicles (together with equipment), components or loads; and
(c)imposing requirements about securing loads on heavy vehicles; and
(d)restricting access to roads by heavy vehicles of a particular mass, size or configuration even if the vehicles comply with the mass requirements, dimension requirements and other requirements mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (c).
(3)However, this Chapter recognises that the use of particular heavy vehicles that do not comply with the mass requirements, dimension requirements and other requirements mentioned in subsection (2)(a) to (c) may be permitted on roads in particular circumstances and subject to particular conditions—
(a)to allow for—
(i)the efficient road transport of goods or passengers by heavy vehicles; or
(ii)the efficient use of large heavy vehicles that are transporting neither goods nor passengers and need to use roads for special uses; and
(b)without compromising the achievement of the purposes.

s 94 amd 2015 No. 12 s 8

Part 4.2 Mass requirements

Division 1 Requirements

95Prescribed mass requirements

(1)The national regulations may prescribe requirements (the prescribed mass requirements) about the following—
(a)the mass of heavy vehicles;
(b)the mass of components of heavy vehicles.
(2)Without limiting subsection (1), the prescribed mass requirements may include the following—
(a)requirements about mass limits relating to—
(i)the tare mass of heavy vehicles; or
(ii)the mass of heavy vehicles together with their loads; or
(iii)the mass on tyres, axles or axle groups of heavy vehicles;
(b)requirements about mass limits relating to axle spacing;
(c)general mass limits applying to heavy vehicles or components of heavy vehicles.
(3)Also, without limiting subsection (1) or (2), the prescribed mass requirements may—
(a)include mass limits that are to apply only to particular areas or routes; and
(b)authorise or require the Regulator to decide the areas or routes to which the mass limits are to apply.
(4)The national regulations may prescribe requirements (that are not prescribed mass requirements) about the use on roads of heavy vehicles under particular mass limits, including, for example—
(a)a requirement that drivers of heavy vehicles using the vehicles under mass limits applying only to particular areas or routes decided by the Regulator must comply with conditions on the use of heavy vehicles on roads under the mass limits imposed by the Regulator (including conditions required by road managers for the roads); and
(b)a requirement that drivers of heavy vehicles who are driving the vehicles under particular mass limits must carry particular documents; and
(c)a requirement that a particular document or other thing must be displayed on heavy vehicles used under particular mass limits.
(5)In this section—
tare mass, of a heavy vehicle, means the mass of the vehicle that—
(a)is ready for service; and
(b)is fitted with all standard equipment, together with any options that are fitted; and
(c)is unoccupied and unladen; and
(d)has all fluid reservoirs (other than for fuel) filled to nominal capacity; and
(e)has 10 litres of fuel in the fuel reservoir or reservoirs (but excluding any loaded fuel in excess of 10 litres).

s 95 amd 2018 No. 18 s 10

96Compliance with mass requirements

(1)A person who drives, or permits another person to drive, a heavy vehicle on a road must ensure the vehicle, and the vehicle’s components and load, comply with the mass requirements applying to the vehicle, unless the person has a reasonable excuse.

Maximum penalty—

(a)for a minor risk breach—$4000; or
(b)for a substantial risk breach—$6000; or
(c)for a severe risk breach—$10000, plus an additional maximum $500 for every additional 1% over a 120% overload (but so that the additional maximum penalty does not exceed $20000).

(4)If a PBS vehicle is authorised by its PBS vehicle approval to have a mass limit that exceeds a limit that would otherwise apply to the vehicle under a prescribed mass requirement, the authorised limit is taken to be the applicable limit, and the vehicle is regarded for the purposes of this Law as complying with the prescribed mass requirement.
(5)This section does not apply to a specified PBS vehicle as defined in section 136(2).

Note—

If a specified PBS vehicle does not comply with the mass requirements applying to the vehicle, it would be a class 2 heavy vehicle and could be dealt with under section 137.

s 96 amd 2016 No. 65 s 17; 2018 No. 18 s 11

Division 2 Categories of breaches of mass requirements

97Definitions for Div 2

In this Division—
severe risk breach lower limit, for a particular mass requirement applying to a heavy vehicle, means a mass equalling 120% of the maximum mass (rounded up to the nearest 0.1t) permitted for the vehicle under that mass requirement.
substantial risk breach lower limit, for a particular mass requirement applying to a heavy vehicle, means the higher of the following—
(a)a mass equalling 105% of the maximum mass (rounded up to the nearest 0.1t) permitted for the vehicle under that mass requirement;
(b)0.5t.

98Minor risk breach

A contravention of a mass requirement applying to a heavy vehicle is a minor risk breach if the subject matter of the contravention is less than the substantial risk breach lower limit for the requirement.

99Substantial risk breach

A contravention of a mass requirement applying to a heavy vehicle is a substantial risk breach if the subject matter of the contravention is—
(a)equal to or greater than the substantial risk breach lower limit for the requirement; and
(b)less than the severe risk breach lower limit for the requirement.

100Severe risk breach

A contravention of a mass requirement applying to a heavy vehicle is a severe risk breach if the subject matter of the contravention is equal to or greater than the severe risk breach lower limit for the requirement.

Part 4.3 Dimension requirements

Division 1 Requirements

101Prescribed dimension requirements

(1)The national regulations may prescribe requirements (the prescribed dimension requirements) about the following—
(a)the dimensions of a heavy vehicle (together with its equipment);
(b)the dimensions of a component of a heavy vehicle;
(c)the dimensions of a heavy vehicle’s load.
(2)Without limiting subsection (1), the prescribed dimension requirements may include requirements about the following—
(a)the dimensions of a heavy vehicle (together with its equipment) disregarding its load;
(b)the dimensions of a heavy vehicle together with its equipment and load;
(c)the dimensions by which a heavy vehicle’s load projects from the vehicle;
(d)the internal measurements of a heavy vehicle, including, for example—
(i)the distance between components of the vehicle; and
(ii)for a combination, the distance between—
(A)the component vehicles of the combination; or
(B)a component vehicle of the combination and a component of another component vehicle of the combination.
(3)The national regulations may also prescribe requirements (that are not prescribed dimension requirements) about the use of a vehicle to which a dimension requirement applies, including, for example, requirements about the use of signs and warning devices.

102Compliance with dimension requirements

(1)A person who drives, or permits another person to drive, a heavy vehicle on a road must ensure the vehicle, and the vehicle’s components and load, comply with the dimension requirements applying to the vehicle, unless the person has a reasonable excuse.

Maximum penalty—

(a)if the heavy vehicle does not have goods or passengers in it—$3000; or
(b)if the heavy vehicle has goods or passengers in it—
(i)for a minor risk breach—$3000; or
(ii)for a substantial risk breach—$5000; or
(iii)for a severe risk breach—$10000.

(4)If a PBS vehicle is authorised by its PBS vehicle approval to have a dimension that exceeds a dimension limit that would otherwise apply to the vehicle under a prescribed dimension requirement, the authorised dimension is taken to be the applicable dimension, and the vehicle is regarded for the purposes of this Law as complying with the prescribed dimension requirement.

s 102 amd 2016 No. 65 s 18

Division 2 Categories of breaches of dimension requirements

103Application of Div 2

This Division applies to a heavy vehicle only while it is carrying goods or passengers.

104Definitions for Div 2

In this Division—
severe risk breach lower limit means—
(a)for a particular dimension requirement applying to a heavy vehicle relating to its length—the length equalling the maximum length permitted for the vehicle under the dimension requirement plus 600mm; or
(b)for a particular dimension requirement applying to a heavy vehicle relating to its width—the width equalling the maximum width permitted for the vehicle under the dimension requirement plus 80mm; or
(c)for a particular dimension requirement applying to a heavy vehicle relating to its height—the height equalling the maximum height permitted for the vehicle under the dimension requirement plus 300mm; or
(d)for a particular dimension requirement applying to a heavy vehicle relating to its load projection—the projection of the vehicle’s load equalling the maximum load projection permitted from any side of the vehicle under the dimension requirement plus 80mm.
substantial risk breach lower limit means—
(a)for a particular dimension requirement applying to a heavy vehicle relating to its length—the length equalling the maximum length permitted for the vehicle under the dimension requirement plus 350mm; or
(b)for a particular dimension requirement applying to a heavy vehicle relating to its width—the width equalling the maximum width permitted for the vehicle under the dimension requirement plus 40mm; or
(c)for a particular dimension requirement applying to a heavy vehicle relating to its height—the height equalling the maximum height permitted for the vehicle under the dimension requirement plus 150mm; or
(d)for a particular dimension requirement applying to a heavy vehicle relating to its load projection—the projection of the vehicle’s load equalling the maximum load projection permitted from any side of the vehicle under the dimension requirement plus 40mm.

105Minor risk breach

A contravention of a dimension requirement applying to a heavy vehicle is a minor risk breach if—
(a)the dimension requirement relates to the vehicle’s ground clearance; or
(b)for a contravention of any other dimension requirement—the subject matter of the contravention is less than the substantial risk breach lower limit for the requirement.

s 105 amd 2018 No. 10 s 19

106Substantial risk breach

(1)A contravention of a dimension requirement applying to a heavy vehicle is a substantial risk breach if—
(a)the subject matter of the contravention is—
(i)equal to or greater than a substantial risk breach lower limit for the requirement; and
(ii)less than the severe risk breach lower limit for the requirement; or
(b)the requirement is a substantial risk breach of a dimension requirement under subsection (2) or (3).
(2)A contravention of a dimension requirement applying to a heavy vehicle relating to its length is a substantial risk breach if—
(a)the contravention would only be a minor risk breach of the dimension requirement if this subsection were not enacted; and
(b)either—
(i)the rear of the vehicle’s load does not carry a sign or warning device required by the national regulations; or
(ii)the vehicle’s load projects in a way that is dangerous to persons or property.
(3)A contravention of a dimension requirement applying to a heavy vehicle relating to its width is a substantial risk breach if—
(a)the contravention would only be a minor risk breach of the dimension requirement if this subsection were not enacted; and
(b)the contravention happens—
(i)at night; or
(ii)in hazardous weather conditions causing reduced visibility.

Note—

See also section 108(3).

107Severe risk breach

(1)A contravention of a dimension requirement applying to a heavy vehicle is a severe risk breach if—
(a)the subject matter of the contravention is equal to or greater than the severe risk breach lower limit for the dimension requirement; or
(b)the contravention is a severe risk breach of the dimension requirement under subsection (2) or (3).
(2)A contravention of a dimension requirement applying to a heavy vehicle relating to its length is a severe risk breach if—
(a)the contravention would only be a substantial risk breach of the dimension requirement as provided by section 106(1)(a) if this subsection were not enacted; and
(b)either—
(i)the rear of the vehicle’s load does not carry a sign or warning device required by the national regulations; or
(ii)the vehicle’s load projects from it in a way that is dangerous to persons or property.
(3)A contravention of a dimension requirement applying to a heavy vehicle relating to its width is a severe risk breach if—
(a)the contravention would only be a substantial risk breach of the dimension requirement as provided by section 106(1)(a) if this subsection were not enacted; and
(b)either—
(i)the contravention happens—
(A)at night; or
(B)in hazardous weather conditions causing reduced visibility; or
(ii)the vehicle’s load projects from it in a way that is dangerous to persons or property.

Division 3 Other provisions relating to load projections

108Dangerous projections taken to be contravention of dimension requirement

(1)This section applies if a heavy vehicle’s load projects in a way that is dangerous to persons or property even if all dimension requirements, and all warning and other requirements prescribed by the national regulations, are met.
(2)The projection of the load is taken to be—
(a)a contravention of a dimension requirement; and
(b)a minor risk breach of that requirement unless subsection (3) applies.
(3)The projection of the load is taken to be—
(a)a contravention of a dimension requirement; and
(b)a substantial risk breach of that requirement if the contravention happens—
(i)at night; or
(ii)in hazardous weather conditions causing reduced visibility.

109Warning signals required for rear projection of loads

(1)This section applies if—
(a)a load projects more than 1.2m behind a heavy vehicle consisting of only a motor vehicle; or
(b)a load projects more than 1.2m behind either the towing vehicle or a trailer in a heavy combination; or
(c)a load projects from a pole-type trailer in a heavy combination; or
(d)a load projects from a heavy vehicle in a way that it would not be readily visible to a person following immediately behind the vehicle.
(2)A person must not use the heavy vehicle, or permit the heavy vehicle to be used, on a road unless—
(a)during the daytime—a brightly coloured red, red and yellow, or yellow flag at least 300mm by 300mm is fixed to the extreme back of the load; or
(b)at night—a light showing a clear red light to the back, visible at a distance of at least 200m, is fixed to the extreme back of the load.

Maximum penalty—$3000.

Part 4.4 Loading requirements

Division 1 Requirements

110National regulations may prescribe loading requirements

(1)The national regulations may prescribe requirements (the loading requirements) about securing a load on a heavy vehicle or a component of a heavy vehicle.
(2)Without limiting subsection (1), the loading requirements may include requirements about the restraint or positioning of a load or any part of it on a motor vehicle or trailer.

111Compliance with loading requirements

(1)A person who drives, or permits another person to drive, a heavy vehicle on a road must ensure the vehicle, and the vehicle’s components and load, comply with the loading requirements applying to the vehicle, unless the person has a reasonable excuse.

Maximum penalty—

(a)for a minor risk breach—$3000; or
(b)for a substantial risk breach—$5000; or
(c)for a severe risk breach—$10000.

s 111 amd 2016 No. 65 s 19

Division 2 Categories of breaches of loading requirements

112Minor risk breach

A contravention of a loading requirement applying to a heavy vehicle is a minor risk breach if—
(a)the subject matter of the contravention does not involve a loss or shifting of the load; and
(b)had the subject matter of the contravention involved a loss or shifting of the load, the loss or shifting of the load would not have been likely to have involved—
(i)an appreciable safety risk; or
(ii)an appreciable risk of—
(A)damage to road infrastructure; or
(B)causing an adverse effect on public amenity.

113Substantial risk breach

(1)A contravention of a loading requirement applying to a heavy vehicle is a substantial risk breach if the subject matter of the contravention involves a loss or shifting of the load that does not involve—
(a)an appreciable safety risk; or
(b)an appreciable risk of—
(i)damage to road infrastructure; or
(ii)causing an adverse effect on public amenity.
(2)A contravention of a loading requirement applying to a heavy vehicle is also a substantial risk breach if—
(a)the subject matter of the contravention does not involve a loss or shifting of the load; and
(b)had the subject matter of the contravention involved a loss or shifting of the load, the loss or shifting of the load would have been likely to have involved—
(i)an appreciable safety risk; or
(ii)an appreciable risk of—
(A)damage to road infrastructure; or
(B)causing an adverse effect on public amenity.

114Severe risk breach

A contravention of a loading requirement applying to a heavy vehicle is a severe risk breach if the subject matter of the contravention involves a loss or shifting of the vehicle’s load that involves—
(a)an appreciable safety risk; or
(b)an appreciable risk of—
(i)damage to road infrastructure; or
(ii)causing an adverse effect on public amenity.

Division 3 Evidentiary provision

div hdg sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

115Proof of contravention of loading requirement

(1)In a proceeding for an offence against Division 1, the following is evidence that a load on a heavy vehicle was not placed, secured or restrained in compliance with a loading requirement applying to the vehicle—
(a)evidence that the load was not placed, secured or restrained in a way that met a loading performance standard;
(b)evidence that a load, or part of a load, has fallen off a heavy vehicle.
(2)The national regulations may prescribe standards (the loading performance standards) for heavy vehicles.

s 115 sub 2013 No. 4 s 12; 2018 No. 18 s 12

Part 4.5 Exemptions for particular overmass or oversize vehicles

Division 1 Preliminary

116Class 1 heavy vehicles and class 3 heavy vehicles

(1)A heavy vehicle is a class 1 heavy vehicle if it, together with its load, does not comply with a prescribed mass requirement or prescribed dimension requirement applying to it, and—
(a)it is a special purpose vehicle; or
(b)it is an agricultural vehicle other than an agricultural trailer; or

Note—

See subsection (2) for agricultural trailers.
(c)it—
(i)is a heavy vehicle carrying, or designed for the purpose of carrying, a large indivisible item, including, for example, a combination including a low loader; but
(ii)is not a road train or B-double, or carrying a freight container designed for multi-modal transport.
(2)An agricultural trailer is a class 1 heavy vehicle, irrespective of whether it, together with its load, does or does not comply with a prescribed mass requirement or prescribed dimension requirement applying to it.
(3)A heavy vehicle is a class 3 heavy vehicle if—
(a)it, together with its load, does not comply with a prescribed mass requirement or prescribed dimension requirement applying to it; and
(b)it is not a class 1 heavy vehicle.
(4)In this section—
concrete pump means a vehicle with a component that can be used to transfer liquid concrete by pumping.
large indivisible item means an item that—
(a)can not be divided without extreme effort, expense or risk of damage to it; and
(b)can not be carried on any heavy vehicle without contravening a mass requirement or dimension requirement.
low loader means a trailer with a loading deck no more than 1m above the ground.
special purpose vehicle means—
(a)a motor vehicle or trailer, other than an agricultural vehicle or a tow truck, built for a purpose other than transporting goods by road; or
(b)a concrete pump or fire truck.

s 116 amd 2018 No. 10 s 20

Division 2 Exemptions by Commonwealth Gazette notice

117Regulator’s power to exempt category of class 1 or 3 heavy vehicles from compliance with mass or dimension requirement

(1)The Regulator may, by Commonwealth Gazette notice complying with section 121, exempt, for a period of not more than 5 years, a stated category of class 1 heavy vehicles or class 3 heavy vehicles from—
(a)a prescribed mass requirement; or
(b)a prescribed dimension requirement.
(2)An exemption under subsection (1) is a mass or dimension exemption (notice).

Note—

See Division 3 of Part 4.7 in relation to amendment, suspension or cancellation of a mass or dimension exemption (notice).

118Restriction on grant of mass or dimension exemption (notice)

(1)The Regulator may grant a mass or dimension exemption (notice) for a category of heavy vehicles only if—
(a)the Regulator is satisfied the use of heavy vehicles of that category on a road under the exemption will not pose a significant risk to public safety; and
(b)each relevant road manager for the exemption has consented to the grant; and
(c)the Regulator is satisfied all other consents required for the exemption under the law of the relevant jurisdiction have been obtained or given.
(2)In deciding whether to grant a mass or dimension exemption (notice), the Regulator must have regard to the approved guidelines for granting mass or dimension exemptions.

119Conditions of mass or dimension exemption (notice)

(1)A mass or dimension exemption (notice)—
(a)must include a condition about the areas or routes to which the exemption applies; and
(b)is subject to conditions prescribed by the national regulations for the exemption; and
(c)must be subject to the road conditions or travel conditions required for the exemption; and
(d)may be subject to any other conditions the Regulator considers appropriate, including, for example—
(i)conditions about 1 or more matters mentioned in Schedule 2; and
(ii)without limiting subparagraph (i), intelligent access program conditions; and
(iii)a condition that the driver of a class 1 heavy vehicle or class 3 heavy vehicle who is driving the vehicle under the exemption must keep in the driver’s possession a copy of—
(A)the Commonwealth Gazette notice for the exemption; or
(B)an information sheet about the exemption published by the Regulator on the Regulator’s website.
(2)Without limiting subsection (1)(a), the condition under the subsection about areas or routes may be imposed by—
(a)applying by reference a stated map or stated list, not in the notice, prepared and published by the relevant road authority or the Regulator; and
(b)referring to the areas or routes shown on the stated map or stated list.
(3)Without limiting subsection (1)(c), road conditions or travel conditions under the subsection may be imposed by referring to road conditions or travel conditions shown on a stated map or stated list applied under subsection (2)(a).
(4)If the notice applies a stated map or stated list—
(a)the Regulator may amend the stated map or stated list prepared and published by it and the relevant road authority may amend the stated map or stated list prepared and published by it, but only by omitting, varying or extending—
(i)the areas or routes mentioned in subsection (2)(b); or
(ii)the road conditions or travel conditions mentioned in subsection (3);
      including by adding additional areas, routes, road conditions or travel conditions; and
(b)the Regulator must ensure a copy of the stated map or stated list as in force from time to time is—
(i)made available for inspection, without charge, during normal business hours at each office of the Regulator; and
(ii)published on the Regulator’s website or published by way of a reference or link published on the Regulator’s website.

Note—

The Regulator must publish a stated map or stated list whether the Regulator or a relevant road authority originally prepared and published it as mentioned in subsection (2).
(5)Despite subsection (4)(a), a road authority may only amend a map or list in a way that affects a particular road if—
(a)the road authority is the road manager for the road; or
(b)the road authority is not the road manager for the road and has been advised by the Regulator that the Regulator has obtained the consent of the road manager for the amendment.
(6)Without limiting the conditions that may be prescribed under subsection (1)(b), the national regulations may—
(a)prescribe conditions that are to apply only to particular areas or roads; and
(b)authorise the Regulator to decide the areas or roads to which the conditions are to apply.
(7)In this section—
relevant road authority, for a mass or dimension exemption (notice), means the road authority for the participating jurisdiction in which the road likely to be travelled under the exemption is situated.
road conditions means road conditions required by the relevant road manager under section 160.
travel conditions means travel conditions required by the relevant road manager under section 161.

s 119 amd 2015 No. 12 s 9; 2016 No. 65 s 139

119AProcess for amending a stated map or stated list

(1)This section applies to the amendment of a stated map or stated list mentioned in section 119.
(2)For the purpose of an amendment by the Regulator only adding an additional area or route to a stated map or stated list—
(a)section 118 applies; and
(b)Division 2 of Part 4.7 applies to the extent the division relates to the grant of a mass or dimension exemption (notice); and
(c)Division 3 of Part 4.7 does not apply.
(3)For the purpose of subsection (2), section 118 and Division 2 of Part 4.7 apply as if—
(a)a reference to the grant of a mass or dimension exemption (notice) or a mass or dimension authority were a reference to the adding of the additional area or route; and
(b)a reference to the relevant road manager for a mass or dimension exemption (notice) or a mass or dimension authority were a reference to the relevant road manager for the exemption or authority that applies the stated map or stated list.
(4)For the purpose of an amendment by the relevant road authority only adding an additional area or route to, or only removing a road condition or travel condition from, a stated map or stated list, section 118 and Part 4.7 do not apply.
(5)For the purpose of an amendment by the Regulator or a relevant road authority if subsections (2) to (4) do not apply, Division 3 of Part 4.7 applies to the extent the Division relates to the amendment of a mass or dimension exemption (notice).
(6)For subsection (5), Division 3 of Part 4.7 applies as if—
(a)a reference to the amendment of a mass or dimension authority were a reference to the amendment of the stated map or stated list; and
(b)a reference to the Regulator were a reference to the Regulator or the relevant road authority, whichever is amending the stated map or stated list; and
(c)a reference to the relevant road manager for a mass or dimension authority were a reference to the relevant road manager for the authority that applies the stated map or stated list.

s 119A ins 2015 No. 12 s 10

120Period for which mass or dimension exemption (notice) applies

A mass or dimension exemption (notice)—
(a)takes effect—
(i)when the Commonwealth Gazette notice for the exemption is published; or
(ii)if a later time is stated in the Commonwealth Gazette notice, at the later time; and
(b)applies for the period stated in the Commonwealth Gazette notice.

121Requirements about Commonwealth Gazette notice

(1)A Commonwealth Gazette notice for a mass or dimension exemption (notice) must state the following—
(a)the category of heavy vehicles to which the exemption applies;
(b)the mass requirement or dimension requirement to which the exemption applies;
(c)the areas or routes to which the exemption applies;
(d)the conditions mentioned in section 119(1)(b), including, for example, by referencing the relevant provision of the national regulations;
(e)the road conditions or travel conditions required by a relevant road manager for the exemption under section 160 or 161;
(f)the other conditions of the exemption;
(g)the period for which the exemption applies.
(2)The Regulator must publish a copy of the Commonwealth Gazette notice on the Regulator’s website.

Division 3 Exemptions by permit

122Regulator’s power to exempt particular class 1 or class 3 heavy vehicle from compliance with mass or dimension requirement

(1)The Regulator may, by giving a person a permit as mentioned in section 127, exempt, for a period of not more than 3 years—
(a)a class 1 heavy vehicle or class 3 heavy vehicle from compliance with—
(i)a prescribed mass requirement; or
(ii)a prescribed dimension requirement; or
(b)a class 1 heavy vehicle or class 3 heavy vehicle from a requirement relating to the GCM of the vehicle, if subsection (2) applies.
(2)The Regulator may, under subsection (1), exempt a class 1 heavy vehicle or class 3 heavy vehicle that includes 2 or more prime movers or 2 or more hauling units from compliance with a mass requirement relating to the GCM of the individual prime movers or hauling units if the total GCM of the prime movers or hauling units complies with the mass requirement relating to the GCM of the combined prime movers or hauling units.
(3)An exemption under subsection (1) is a mass or dimension exemption (permit).
(4)A mass or dimension exemption (permit) may apply to 1 or more heavy vehicles.

Note—

See Division 4 of Part 4.7 in relation to amendment, suspension or cancellation of a mass or dimension exemption (permit).

123Application for mass or dimension exemption (permit)

(1)A person may apply to the Regulator for a mass or dimension exemption (permit).
(2)The application must be—
(a)in the approved form; and
(b)accompanied by the prescribed fee for the application.
(3)The Regulator may, by notice given to the applicant, require the applicant to give the Regulator any additional information the Regulator reasonably requires to decide the application.

124Restriction on grant of mass or dimension exemption (permit)

(1)The Regulator may grant a mass or dimension exemption (permit) for a heavy vehicle only if—
(a)the Regulator is satisfied the use of the heavy vehicle on a road under the exemption will not pose a significant risk to public safety; and
(b)each relevant road manager for the exemption has consented to the grant; and
(c)the Regulator is satisfied all other consents required for the exemption under the law of the relevant jurisdiction have been obtained by the applicant or have been otherwise given.
(2)In deciding whether to grant a mass or dimension exemption (permit), the Regulator must have regard to the approved guidelines for granting mass or dimension exemptions.

125Conditions of mass or dimension exemption (permit)

(1)A mass or dimension exemption (permit)—
(a)must include a condition about the areas or routes to which the exemption applies; and
(b)is subject to conditions prescribed by the national regulations for the exemption; and
(c)must be subject to the road conditions or travel conditions required by a relevant road manager for the exemption under section 160 or 161; and
(d)may be subject to any other conditions the Regulator considers appropriate, including, for example—
(i)conditions about 1 or more matters mentioned in Schedule 2; and
(ii)without limiting subparagraph (i), intelligent access program conditions.
(2)Without limiting the conditions that may be prescribed under subsection (1)(b), the national regulations may—
(a)prescribe conditions that are to apply only to particular areas or roads; and
(b)authorise the Regulator to decide the areas or roads to which the conditions are to apply.

s 125 amd 2016 No. 65 s 139

126Period for which mass or dimension exemption (permit) applies

(1)A mass or dimension exemption (permit) applies for the period stated in the permit for the exemption.
(2)The period may be less than the period sought by the applicant for the mass or dimension exemption (permit).

127Permit for mass or dimension exemption (permit) etc.

(1)If the Regulator grants a mass or dimension exemption (permit) to a person, the Regulator must give the person—
(a)a permit for the exemption; and
(b)if the Regulator has imposed conditions on the exemption under section 125(1)(a), (c) or (d) or has granted the exemption for a period less than the period of not more than 3 years sought by the person—an information notice for the decision to impose the conditions or grant the exemption for the shorter period.

Note—

See sections 164 and 165 for the requirements for an information notice relating to the imposition of a road condition or travel condition at the request of a relevant road manager.
(2)A permit for a mass or dimension exemption (permit) must state the following—
(a)the name of the person to whom the permit is given;
(b)a description of each heavy vehicle to which the exemption applies, including the registration number of the vehicle if it is registered;
(c)the mass requirement or dimension requirement to which the exemption applies;
(d)the areas or routes to which the exemption applies;
(e)the conditions mentioned in section 125(1)(b), including, for example, by referencing the relevant provision of the national regulations;
(f)the road conditions or travel conditions required by a relevant road manager for the exemption under section 160 or 161;
(g)the other conditions of the exemption;
(h)the period for which the exemption applies.

128Refusal of application for mass or dimension exemption (permit)

If the Regulator refuses an application for a mass or dimension exemption (permit), the Regulator must give the applicant an information notice for the decision to refuse the application.

Note—

See section 166 for the requirements for an information notice relating to a relevant road manager’s decision not to give consent to the grant of a mass or dimension exemption (permit).

Division 4 Operating under mass or dimension exemption

129Contravening condition of mass or dimension exemption generally

(1)The driver or operator of a heavy vehicle being used on a road under a mass or dimension exemption must not contravene a condition of the exemption.

Maximum penalty—$6000.

(2)A person must not use, or permit to be used, on a road a heavy vehicle that contravenes a condition of a mass or dimension exemption applying to the vehicle.

Maximum penalty—$6000.

(3)A person must not use a heavy vehicle, or permit a heavy vehicle to be used, on a road in a way that contravenes a condition of a mass or dimension exemption applying to the vehicle.

Maximum penalty—$6000.

(4)A person does not commit an offence against this Law in relation to a heavy vehicle contravening a mass requirement or dimension requirement if—
(a)the vehicle is exempt, under a mass or dimension exemption, from compliance with the mass requirement or dimension requirement; and
(b)the vehicle, and its use on a road, complies with the conditions of the exemption.
(5)However, if a person commits a condition offence—
(a)the exemption does not operate in the person’s favour while the contravention constituting the offence continues; and
(b)the exemption must be disregarded in deciding—
(i)whether the person has committed an offence in relation to a contravention of a mass requirement or dimension requirement applying to a heavy vehicle; and
(ii)the risk category for the contravention.
(6)If, because of the operation of subsection (5), a person commits an offence against a provision of this Law (the other offence provision) in relation to a mass requirement or dimension requirement to which an exemption under this Part applies, the person—
(a)may be charged with the condition offence or an offence against the other offence provision; but
(b)must not be charged with both offences.
(7)Subsection (1) does not apply to a condition mentioned in section 132(1).
(8)In this section—
condition offence means an offence against subsection (1), (2) or (3).

130Contravening condition of mass or dimension exemption relating to pilot or escort vehicle

(1)This section applies if a mass or dimension exemption is subject to a condition requiring a heavy vehicle to which the exemption applies to be accompanied by a pilot vehicle or escort vehicle while the heavy vehicle is used on a road.
(2)The driver of the pilot vehicle or escort vehicle accompanying the heavy vehicle must comply with the conditions of the mass or dimension exemption about the use of the pilot vehicle or escort vehicle.

Maximum penalty—$6000.

(3)The operator of the heavy vehicle must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the driver of the pilot vehicle or escort vehicle complies with subsection (2).

Maximum penalty—$6000.

s 130 amd 2016 No. 65 s 20

131Using pilot vehicle with a heavy vehicle that contravenes certain conditions of mass or dimension exemption

(1)The driver of a pilot vehicle must ensure the pilot vehicle does not accompany a heavy vehicle to which a mass or dimension exemption applies if the heavy vehicle, or its use on a road, contravenes a condition of the exemption because the heavy vehicle—
(a)travels on a route not allowed under the exemption; or
(b)travels at a time other than a time allowed under the exemption; or
(c)is accompanied by fewer than the number of pilot or escort vehicles required under the exemption.

Maximum penalty—$6000.

(2)If a person is both the driver of a pilot vehicle accompanying a heavy vehicle to which a mass or dimension exemption applies and an operator of the heavy vehicle, the person may, in relation to the heavy vehicle or its use on a road contravening a condition of the exemption of the kind contemplated by subsection (1), be prosecuted under section 129 or subsection (1), but not both.

132Keeping relevant document while driving under mass or dimension exemption (notice)

(1)This section applies if a mass or dimension exemption (notice) is subject to the condition that the driver of a class 1 heavy vehicle or class 3 heavy vehicle who is driving the vehicle under the exemption must keep a relevant document in the driver’s possession.
(2)A driver of the class 1 heavy vehicle or class 3 heavy vehicle who is driving the vehicle under the mass or dimension exemption (notice) must comply with the condition.

Maximum penalty—$3000.

(3)Each relevant party for a driver mentioned in subsection (2) must ensure the driver complies with subsection (2), unless the relevant party has a reasonable excuse.

Maximum penalty—$3000.

(7)In this section—
relevant document, for a mass or dimension exemption (notice), means a copy of—
(a)the Commonwealth Gazette notice for the exemption; or
(b)an information sheet about the exemption published by the Regulator on the Regulator’s website.
relevant party, for the driver of a class 1 heavy vehicle or class 3 heavy vehicle, means—
(a)an employer of the driver if the driver is an employed driver; or
(b)a prime contractor of the driver if the driver is a self-employed driver; or
(c)an operator of the vehicle if the driver is making a journey for the operator.

s 132 amd 2016 No. 65 s 21

133Keeping copy of permit while driving under mass or dimension exemption (permit)

(1)The driver of a class 1 heavy vehicle or class 3 heavy vehicle who is driving the vehicle under a mass or dimension exemption (permit) must keep a copy of the permit for the exemption in the driver’s possession.

Maximum penalty—$3000.

(2)If the driver of a class 1 heavy vehicle or class 3 heavy vehicle is driving the vehicle under a mass or dimension exemption (permit) granted to a relevant party for the driver and the relevant party has given the driver a copy of a permit for the purpose of subsection (1), the driver must, as soon as reasonably practicable, return the copy to the relevant party if the driver stops working for the relevant party.

Maximum penalty—$4000.

(3)Each relevant party for a driver mentioned in subsection (1) must ensure the driver complies with subsection (1), unless the relevant party has a reasonable excuse.

Maximum penalty—$3000.

(7)In this section—
relevant party, for the driver of a class 1 heavy vehicle or class 3 heavy vehicle, means—
(a)an employer of the driver if the driver is an employed driver; or
(b)a prime contractor of the driver if the driver is a self-employed driver; or
(c)an operator of the vehicle if the driver is making a journey for the operator.

s 133 amd 2016 No. 65 s 22

Division 5 Other provision

134Displaying warning signs on vehicles if not required by dimension exemption

(1)A heavy vehicle warning sign must not be displayed on a heavy vehicle unless it is being used under a dimension exemption.

Maximum penalty—$3000.

(2)A pilot vehicle warning sign must not be displayed on a vehicle unless it is being used as a pilot vehicle for a heavy vehicle being used under a dimension exemption.

Maximum penalty—$3000.

(3)In this section—
dimension exemption means an exemption under this Part from compliance with a dimension requirement.
heavy vehicle warning sign means a warning sign required under the national regulations to be attached to a heavy vehicle being used under a dimension exemption.
pilot vehicle warning sign means a warning sign required under the national regulations to be attached to a vehicle being used as a pilot vehicle for a heavy vehicle being used under a dimension exemption.

Part 4.6 Restricting access to roads by large vehicles that are not overmass or oversize vehicles

Division 1 Preliminary

135Main purpose of Pt 4.6

The main purpose of this Part is to restrict access to roads by heavy vehicles that, while complying with mass requirements and dimension requirements applying to them, may, because of their size—
(a)endanger public safety; or
(b)damage road infrastructure; or
(c)adversely affect public amenity.

136Class 2 heavy vehicles

(1)A heavy vehicle is a class 2 heavy vehicle if—
(a)it—
(i)complies with the prescribed mass requirements and prescribed dimension requirements applying to it; and
(ii)is—
(A)a B-double; or
(B)a road train; or
(C)a bus, other than an articulated bus, that is longer than 12.5m; or
(D)a combination designed and built to carry vehicles on more than 1 deck that, together with its load is longer than 19m or higher than 4.3m; or
(E)a motor vehicle, or a combination, that is higher than 4.3m and is built to carry cattle, sheep, pigs or horses; or
(b)it is a PBS vehicle other than a specified PBS vehicle.
(2)In this section—
specified PBS vehicle means a PBS vehicle that—
(a)is not a bus; and
(b)is not longer than 20m; and
(c)is the subject of a current PBS vehicle approval at performance level 1; and
(d)complies with the PBS vehicle approval; and
(e)complies with the general mass limits for the vehicle, regardless of whether the PBS vehicle approval authorises a higher mass limit.

Note—

General mass limits for a vehicle may be included in prescribed mass requirements under section 95.

s 136 sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

amd 2018 No. 18 s 13

Division 2 Restriction

137Using class 2 heavy vehicle

A person must not use a class 2 heavy vehicle, or permit a class 2 heavy vehicle to be used, on a road other than in accordance with a class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation.

Maximum penalty—$6000.

Division 3 Authorisation by Commonwealth Gazette notice

138Regulator’s power to authorise use of all or stated categories of class 2 heavy vehicles

(1)The Regulator may, by Commonwealth Gazette notice complying with section 142, authorise, for a period of not more than 5 years, the use of all or stated categories of class 2 heavy vehicles in one or more of the following ways—
(a)in stated areas or on stated routes;
(b)during stated hours of stated days;
(c)in the case of PBS vehicles, in accordance with a stated requirement that the vehicles are operated in accordance with the conditions contained in a PBS vehicle approval.
(2)An authorisation under subsection (1) is a class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (notice).

Note—

See Division 3 of Part 4.7 in relation to amendment, suspension or cancellation of a class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (notice).

139Restriction on grant of class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (notice)

(1)The Regulator may grant a class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (notice) only if—
(a)the Regulator is satisfied the use of class 2 heavy vehicles, or the stated categories of class 2 heavy vehicles, on a road under the authorisation will not pose a significant risk to public safety; and
(b)each relevant road manager for the authorisation has consented to the grant; and
(c)the Regulator is satisfied all other consents required for the authorisation under the law of the relevant jurisdiction have been obtained or given.
(2)In deciding whether to grant a class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (notice), the Regulator must have regard to the approved guidelines for granting class 2 heavy vehicle authorisations.

140Conditions of class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (notice)

A class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (notice)—
(a)must be subject to the road conditions or travel conditions required by a road manager for the authorisation under section 160 or 161; and

Note—

Under sections 160(1)(b) and (4), a road manager may only require road conditions of a type prescribed by the national regulations.
(b)may be subject to other conditions the regulator considers appropriate, including, for example, a condition that the driver of a class 2 heavy vehicle who is driving the vehicle under the authorisation must keep in the driver’s possession a copy of—
(i)the Commonwealth Gazette notice for the authorisation; or
(ii)an information sheet about the authorisation published by the Regulator on the Regulator’s website.

s 140 sub 2015 No. 12 s 11

141Period for which class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (notice) applies

A class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (notice)—
(a)takes effect—
(i)when the Commonwealth Gazette notice for the authorisation is published; or
(ii)if a later time is stated in the Commonwealth Gazette notice, at the later time; and
(b)applies for the period stated in the Commonwealth Gazette notice.

142Requirements about Commonwealth Gazette notice etc.

(1)A Commonwealth Gazette notice for a class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (notice) must state the following—
(a)that the authorisation applies to all class 2 heavy vehicles or, if the authorisation only applies to particular categories of class 2 heavy vehicles, the categories of class 2 heavy vehicles to which the authorisation applies;
(b)the areas or routes to which the authorisation applies;
(c)the days and hours to which the authorisation applies;
(d)any conditions applying to class 2 heavy vehicles being used on a road under the authorisation;
(e)the period for which the authorisation applies.
(2)Without limiting subsection (1)(b), the notice may state the areas or routes under the subsection by—
(a)applying by reference a stated map or stated list, not in the notice, prepared and published by the relevant road authority or the Regulator; and
(b)referring to the areas or routes shown on the stated map or list.
(3)Without limiting subsection (1)(d), the notice may state road conditions or travel conditions under the subsection by referring to road conditions or travel conditions shown on a stated map or stated list applied under subsection (2)(a).
(4)The Regulator must publish a copy of the notice on the Regulator’s website.
(5)If the notice applies a stated map or stated list—
(a)the Regulator may amend the stated map or stated list prepared and published by it and the relevant road authority may amend the stated map or stated list prepared and published by it, but only by omitting, varying or extending—
(i)the areas or routes mentioned in subsection (2)(b); or
(ii)the road conditions or travel conditions mentioned in subsection (3);
      including by adding additional areas, routes, road conditions or travel conditions; and
(b)the Regulator must ensure a copy of the stated map or stated list as in force from time to time is—
(i)made available for inspection, without charge, during normal business hours at each office of the Regulator; and
(ii)published on the Regulator’s website or published by way of a reference or link published on the Regulator’s website.

Note—

The Regulator must publish a stated map or stated list whether the Regulator or a relevant road authority originally prepared and published it as mentioned in subsection (2).
(6)Despite subsection (5)(a), a road authority may only amend a map or list in a way that affects a particular road if—
(a)the road authority is the road manager for the road; or
(b)the road authority is not the road manager for the road and has been advised by the Regulator that the Regulator has obtained the consent of the road manager for the amendment.
(7)In this section—
relevant road authority, for a class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (notice), means the road authority for the participating jurisdiction in which the road likely to be travelled under the authorisation is situated.
road conditions means road conditions required by the relevant road manager under section 160.
travel conditions means travel conditions required by the relevant road manager under section 161.

s 142 amd 2015 No. 12 s 12

142AProcess for amending stated map or stated list

(1)This section applies to the amendment of a stated map or stated list mentioned in section 142.
(2)For the purpose of an amendment by the Regulator only adding an additional area or route to a stated map or stated list—
(a)section 139 applies; and
(b)Division 2 of Part 4.7 applies to the extent the division relates to the grant of a class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (notice); and
(c)Division 3 of Part 4.7 does not apply.
(3)For the purpose of subsection (2), section 139 and Division 2 of Part 4.7 apply as if—
(a)a reference to the grant of a class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (notice) or a mass or dimension authority were a reference to the adding of the additional area or route; and
(b)a reference to the relevant road manager for a class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (notice) or a mass or dimension authority were a reference to the relevant road manager for the authorisation or authority that applies the stated map or stated list.
(4)For the purpose of an amendment by the relevant road authority only adding an additional area or route to, or only removing a road condition or travel condition from, a stated map or stated list, section 139 and Part 4.7 do not apply.
(5)For the purpose of an amendment by the Regulator or a relevant road authority if subsections (2) to (4) do not apply, Division 3 of Part 4.7 applies to the extent the division relates to the amendment of a class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (notice).
(6)For the purpose of subsection (5), Division 3 of Part 4.7 applies as if—
(a)a reference to the amendment of a mass or dimension authority were a reference to the amendment of the stated map or stated list; and
(b)a reference to the Regulator were a reference to the Regulator or the relevant road authority, whichever is amending the stated map or stated list; and
(c)a reference to the relevant road manager for a mass or dimension authority were a reference to the relevant road manager for the authority that applies the stated map or stated list.

s 142A ins 2015 No. 12 s 13

Division 4 Authorisation by permit

143Regulator’s power to authorise use of a particular class 2 heavy vehicle

(1)The Regulator may, by giving a person a permit as mentioned in section 148, authorise, for a period of not more than 3 years, the use of a class 2 heavy vehicle—
(a)in stated areas or on stated routes; and
(b)during stated hours of stated days.
(2)An authorisation under subsection (1) is a class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (permit).
(3)A class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (permit) may apply to 1 or more heavy vehicles.

Note—

See Division 4 of Part 4.7 in relation to amendment, suspension or cancellation of a class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (permit).

144Application for class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (permit)

(1)A person may apply to the Regulator for a class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (permit).
(2)The application must be—
(a)in the approved form; and
(b)accompanied by the prescribed fee for the application.
(3)The Regulator may, by notice given to the applicant, require the applicant to give the Regulator any additional information the Regulator reasonably requires to decide the application.

145Restriction on grant of class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (permit)

(1)The Regulator may grant a class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (permit) for a class 2 heavy vehicle only if—
(a)the Regulator is satisfied the use of the class 2 heavy vehicle on a road under the authorisation will not pose a significant risk to public safety; and
(b)each relevant road manager for the authorisation has consented to the grant; and
(c)the Regulator is satisfied all other consents required for the authorisation under the law of the relevant jurisdiction have been obtained by the applicant or have been otherwise given.
(2)In deciding whether to grant a class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (permit), the Regulator must have regard to the approved guidelines for granting class 2 heavy vehicle authorisations.

146Conditions of class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (permit)

A class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (permit)—
(a)must be subject to the road conditions or travel conditions required by a relevant road manager for the authorisation under section 160 or 161; and
(b)may be subject to any other conditions the Regulator considers appropriate, including, for example—
(i)conditions about 1 or more matters mentioned in Schedule 2; and
(ii)without limiting subparagraph (i), intelligent access program conditions.

s 146 amd 2016 No. 65 s 139

147Period for which class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (permit) applies

(1)A class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (permit) applies for the period stated in the permit for the authorisation.
(2)The period may be less than the period sought by the applicant for the class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (permit).

148Permit for class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (permit) etc.

(1)If the Regulator grants a class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (permit) to a person, the Regulator must give the person—
(a)a permit for the authorisation; and
(b)if the Regulator has imposed conditions on the authorisation under section 146 or has granted the authorisation for a period less than the period of not more than 3 years sought by the person—an information notice for the decision to impose the conditions or grant the authorisation for the shorter period.

Note—

See sections 164 and 165 for the requirements for an information notice relating to the imposition of a road condition or travel condition at the request of a relevant road manager.
(2)A permit for a class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (permit) must state the following—
(a)the name and address of the person to whom the permit is given;
(b)if the authorisation applies to particular categories of class 2 heavy vehicles, the categories of heavy vehicles to which the authorisation applies;
(c)the areas or routes to which the authorisation applies;
(d)the days and hours to which the authorisation applies;
(e)the road conditions or travel conditions required by a relevant road manager for the authorisation under section 160 or 161;
(f)any other conditions applying to a class 2 heavy vehicle being used on a road under the authorisation;
(g)the period for which the authorisation applies.

149Refusal of application for class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (permit)

If the Regulator refuses an application for a class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (permit), the Regulator must give the applicant an information notice for the decision to refuse the application.

Note—

See section 166 for the requirements for an information notice relating to a road manager’s decision not to give consent to the grant of a class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (permit).

Division 5 Operating under class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation

div hdg sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

150Contravening condition of class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation

(1)The driver or operator of a class 2 heavy vehicle being used on a road under a class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation must not contravene a condition of the authorisation.

Maximum penalty—$6000.

(2)Subsection (1) does not apply to a condition mentioned in section 151(1).

s 150 sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

151Keeping relevant document while driving under class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (notice)

(1)This section applies if a class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (notice) is subject to the condition that the driver of a class 2 heavy vehicle who is driving the vehicle under the authorisation must keep a relevant document in the driver’s possession.
(2)A driver of the class 2 heavy vehicle who is driving the vehicle under the class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (notice) must comply with the condition.

Maximum penalty—$3000.

(3)Each relevant party for a driver mentioned in subsection (2) must ensure the driver complies with subsection (2), unless the relevant party has a reasonable excuse.

Maximum penalty—$3000.

(7)In this section—
relevant document, for a class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (notice), means a copy of—
(a)the Commonwealth Gazette notice for the authorisation; or
(b)an information sheet about the authorisation published by the Regulator on the Regulator’s website.
relevant party, for the driver of a class 2 heavy vehicle, means—
(a)an employer of the driver if the driver is an employed driver; or
(b)a prime contractor of the driver if the driver is a self-employed driver; or
(c)an operator of the vehicle if the driver is making a journey for the operator.

s 151 sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

amd 2016 No. 65 s 23

152Keeping copy of permit while driving under class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (permit)

(1)The driver of a class 2 heavy vehicle who is driving the vehicle under a class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (permit) must keep a copy of the permit for the authorisation in the driver’s possession.

Maximum penalty—$3000.

(2)If the driver of a class 2 heavy vehicle is driving the vehicle under a class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (permit) granted to a relevant party for the driver and the relevant party has given the driver a copy of a permit for the purpose of subsection (1), the driver must, as soon as reasonably practicable, return the copy to the relevant party if the driver stops working for the relevant party.

Maximum penalty—$4000.

(3)Each relevant party for a driver mentioned in subsection (1) must ensure the driver complies with subsection (1), unless the relevant party has a reasonable excuse.

Maximum penalty—$3000.

(7)In this section—
relevant party, for the driver of a class 2 heavy vehicle, means—
(a)an employer of the driver if the driver is an employed driver; or
(b)a prime contractor of the driver if the driver is a self-employed driver; or
(c)an operator of the vehicle if the driver is making a journey for the operator.

s 152 sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

amd 2016 No. 65 s 24

153[Repealed]

s 153 sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

amd 2016 No. 65 s 25

om 2018 No. 18 s 14

Part 4.6A Restricted access vehicles

pt hdg ins 2015 No. 12 s 14

153AUsing restricted access vehicle

(1)A person must not use a restricted access vehicle, or permit a restricted access vehicle to be used, on a road unless the road is one on which the vehicle is allowed to be used under a mass or dimension authority applying to the vehicle.

Maximum penalty—$6000.

(2)In this section—
restricted access vehicle means a heavy vehicle that (together with its load) is—
(a)higher than 4.3m; or
(b)wider than 2.5m; or
(c)longer than—
(i)if a single vehicle other than an articulated bus—12.5m;
(ii)if an articulated bus—18m; or
(iii)if a combination—19m.
(3)This section does not apply to—
(a)a class 2 heavy vehicle; or
(b)a specified PBS vehicle as defined in section 136(2).

Note—

All other PBS vehicles are class 2 heavy vehicles (see section 136).

s 153A ins 2015 No. 12 s 14

amd 2018 No. 18 s 15

Part 4.7 Particular provisions about mass or dimension authorities

Division 1 Preliminary

154Definitions for Pt 4.7

In this Part—
road condition
(a)means a condition directed at—
(i)protecting road infrastructure; or
(ii)preventing or minimising an adverse effect on the community arising from noise, emissions or traffic congestion or from other matters stated in approved guidelines; or
(iii)preventing or minimising significant risks to public safety arising from heavy vehicle use that is incompatible with road infrastructure or traffic conditions; but
(b)does not include a condition requiring the installation of equipment or another thing in a vehicle unless the equipment or thing is required to be installed in the vehicle for an intelligent access program condition imposed in connection with a condition directed at the matters mentioned in paragraph (a)(i), (ii) or (iii).

def road condition amd 2016 No. 65 s 139

route assessment, in relation to a mass or dimension authority, means an assessment of the road infrastructure in the areas or on the routes to which the authority is to apply to decide the impact the grant of the authority will have, or is likely to have, on the road infrastructure.
travel condition means a condition directed at ensuring that access to a stated route or area is limited to either or both of the following—
(a)stated days or hours (or both);
(b)travel in a stated direction.
vehicle condition means a condition directed at ensuring a vehicle can operate safely on roads.

Division 2 Obtaining consent of relevant road managers

div hdg sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

155Application of Div 2

This Division applies in relation to the Regulator obtaining the consent of the road manager for a road for the purpose of granting a mass or dimension authority.

s 155 sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

156Period within which road manager must decide

(1)If the Regulator asks a road manager for a road for the road manager’s consent to the grant of a mass or dimension authority, the road manager must decide to give or not to give the consent—
(a)within—
(i)28 days after the request is made, unless subparagraph (ii) applies; or
(ii)if this section applies because the road manager gave the Regulator a notice of objection to the grant under section 167—14 days after giving the notice of objection; or
(b)within a longer period, of not more than 6 months after the request is made, agreed to by the Regulator.

Note—

See, however, sections 159, 167 and 168.
(2)The road manager may ask for, and the Regulator may agree to, a longer period under subsection (1)(b) only if—
(a)consultation is required under a law with another entity (including, for example, for the purpose of obtaining that entity’s approval to give the consent); or
(b)the road manager considers a route assessment is necessary for deciding whether to give or not to give the consent; or
(c)the road manager is the road authority for the participating jurisdiction and considers that a local government authority that is not required under a law to be consulted should nevertheless be consulted before deciding whether to give or not to give the consent.
(3)If the Regulator agrees to a longer period under subsection (1)(b), the Regulator must give the applicant for the mass or dimension authority concerned a written statement of the decision—
(a)identifying the road manager concerned; and
(b)indicating the ground on which the road manager asked for a longer period.

s 156 sub 2013 No. 4 s 12; 2018 No. 18 s 16

156A Deciding request for consent generally

(1)If the Regulator asks a road manager for a road for the road manager’s consent to the grant of a mass or dimension authority, the road manager may decide not to give the consent only if the road manager is satisfied—
(a)the mass or dimension authority will, or is likely to—
(i)cause damage to road infrastructure; or
(ii)impose adverse effects on the community arising from noise, emissions or traffic congestion or from other matters stated in approved guidelines; or
(iii)pose significant risks to public safety arising from heavy vehicle use that is incompatible with road infrastructure or traffic conditions; and
(b)it is not possible to grant the authority subject to road conditions or travel conditions that will avoid, or significantly minimise—
(i)the damage or likely damage; or
(ii)the adverse effects or likely adverse effects; or
(iii)the significant risks or likely significant risks.
(2)If the road manager considers that the consent would be given if the mass of the vehicle under the application for the authority was less than applied for, the road manager must give the consent subject to a road condition that the vehicle not exceed the mass.
(3)Also, in deciding whether or not to give the consent, the road manager must have regard to—
(a)for a mass or dimension exemption—the approved guidelines for granting mass or dimension exemptions; or
(b)for a class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation—the approved guidelines for granting class 2 heavy vehicle authorisations.
(4)If a relevant road manager for a mass or dimension authority decides not to give consent to the grant of the authority, the relevant road manager must give the Regulator a written statement that explains the road manager’s decision and complies with section 172.

s 156A ins 2018 No. 18 s 16

157Obtaining third party’s approval for giving consent for permit

(1)This section applies if—
(a)a person (the applicant) applies for a mass or dimension exemption (permit) or class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (permit); and
(b)consultation with another entity is required under a law.
(2)The Regulator must—
(a)notify the applicant that consultation is required; and
(b)notify the road manager that the applicant has been notified of the requirement.
(3)The Regulator must, as far as practicable, give the notifications under subsection (2) concurrently with asking the road manager for the consent.

s 157 sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

158Action pending consultation with third party

(1)This section applies if—
(a)consultation with another entity is required under a law; and
(b)the road manager does not ask for a longer period under section 156(1)(b) or the Regulator refuses to agree to a longer period asked for under section 156(1)(b).
(2)If the consultation with the other entity is not yet completed, the road manager must, as far as practicable, deal with the request for consent and decide to give or not to give the consent (even though the consultation with the other entity is not completed).
(3)If the road manager decides to give the consent even though the consultation with the other entity is not completed, the consent is not operative unless and until—
(a)the consultation is completed; and
(b)if the other entity’s approval is required, the other entity gives its approval.
(4)If—
(a)the consultation with the other entity is completed and the other entity’s approval is required; and
(b)the road manager has not yet decided to give or not to give the consent;

the road manager may—

(c)decide not to give the consent, on the ground that the consent would be inoperative; or
(d)decide to give the consent, but the consent is inoperative without the other entity’s approval.

(5)The Regulator must not grant a mass or dimension authority if—
(a)consultation is required under a law with another entity; and
(b)the other entity’s approval is required; and
(c)the other entity has declined to give its approval.

s 158 sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

159Deciding request for consent if route assessment required

(1)This section applies if—
(a)a person (the applicant) applies for a mass or dimension exemption (permit) or class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (permit); and
(b)the Regulator asks a road manager for a road for the road manager’s consent to the grant of the exemption or authorisation; and
(c)the road manager considers a route assessment is necessary for deciding whether to give or not to give the consent.
(2)The road manager may notify the Regulator of the following—
(a)that a route assessment is required for the road manager deciding whether to give or not to give the consent;
(b)the fee payable (if any) for the route assessment under a law of the jurisdiction in which the road is situated.
(3)The Regulator must notify the applicant of the following—
(a)that a route assessment is required for the road manager deciding whether to give or not to give the consent;
(b)the fee payable (if any) for the route assessment under a law of the jurisdiction in which the road is situated;
(c)if a fee is payable for the route assessment under a law of the jurisdiction in which the road is situated, that the road manager may stop considering whether to give or not to give the consent until the fee is paid;
(d)if, under section 156(1)(b), the Regulator agrees to a longer period for the road manager deciding whether to give or not to give the consent, the longer period agreed by the Regulator.
(4)If a fee is payable for the route assessment under a law of the jurisdiction in which the road is situated—
(a)the road manager may stop considering whether to give or not to give the consent until the fee is paid; and
(b)the period between the day the applicant is given the notification under subsection (3) and the day the fee is paid must not be counted in working out the period taken by the road manager to decide whether to give or not to give the consent.
(5)If the applicant does not pay the fee for the route assessment within 28 days after the notification is given to the applicant under subsection (3), or a longer period agreed to by the Regulator, the application lapses.

s 159 sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

160Imposition of road conditions

(1)A relevant road manager for a mass or dimension authority may consent to the grant of the authority subject to—
(a)except in the case of a class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (notice)—the condition that a stated road condition is imposed on the authority; or
(b)in the case of a class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (notice)—the condition that a stated road condition of a type prescribed by the national regulations is imposed on the authority.
(2)If a relevant road manager for a mass or dimension authority consents to the grant of the authority subject to a condition as mentioned in subsection (1)(a)—
(a)the relevant road manager must give the Regulator a written statement that explains the road manager’s decision to give consent to the grant of the authority subject to the condition and complies with section 172; and
(b)the Regulator must impose the stated road condition on the authority.
(3)If a relevant road manager for a mass or dimension authority consents to the grant of the authority subject to a condition as mentioned in subsection (1)(b), the Regulator must impose the stated road condition on the authority.
(4)The national regulations may prescribe road conditions, or kinds of road conditions, for the purposes of subsection (1)(b) and must prescribe the circumstances in which it is appropriate to impose such a condition.

s 160 sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

161Imposition of travel conditions

(1)A relevant road manager for a mass or dimension authority may consent to the grant of the authority subject to the condition that a stated travel condition is imposed on the authority.
(2)If a relevant road manager for a mass or dimension authority consents to the grant of the authority as mentioned in subsection (1)—
(a)the relevant road manager must give the Regulator a written statement that explains the road manager’s decision to give consent to the grant of the authority subject to the condition and complies with section 172; and
(b)the Regulator must impose the stated travel condition on the authority.

s 161 sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

162Imposition of vehicle conditions

(1)A relevant road manager for a mass or dimension authority who gives consent to the grant of the authority may ask the Regulator to impose a stated vehicle condition on the authority.
(2)If a relevant road manager for a mass or dimension authority makes a request as mentioned in subsection (1), the Regulator must—
(a)consider the request and decide—
(i)to impose the stated vehicle condition on the authority (with or without modification); or
(ii)not to impose the stated vehicle condition on the authority; and
(b)notify the relevant road manager of the decision under paragraph (a).

s 162 sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

163Obtaining consent of road authority if particular road manager refuses to give consent

(1)This section applies if a relevant road manager for a mass or dimension authority—
(a)is a public authority other than a road authority; and
(b)either—
(i)decides not to consent to the grant of the mass or dimension authority; or
(ii)consents to the grant of the mass or dimension authority subject to the imposition of road conditions or travel conditions the Regulator considers are not necessary to avoid, or significantly minimise—
(A)damage, or likely damage, to road infrastructure; or
(B)adverse effects, or likely adverse effects, on the community arising from noise, emissions or traffic congestion or from other matters stated in approved guidelines; or
(C)significant risks, or likely significant risks, to public safety arising from heavy vehicle use that is incompatible with road infrastructure or traffic conditions.
(2)The Regulator may ask the relevant road authority to consent to the grant.
(3)If the Regulator asks the relevant road authority for consent under this section, the road authority must decide to give or not to give the consent—
(a)within 3 months of the request; or
(b)within a longer period, of not more than 6 months, agreed to by the Regulator.
(4)If the relevant road authority gives the consent or gives the consent on the condition that a stated road condition or travel condition is imposed on the mass or dimension authority—
(a)the decision of the relevant road manager has no effect for the purposes of this Law; and
(b)to the extent this Law applies in relation to the consent of, or the road conditions or travel conditions required by, the relevant road manager, this Law (other than this section) applies as if a reference in it to the relevant road manager were a reference to the relevant road authority.
(5)In this section—
relevant road authority, for a decision of a relevant road manager for a mass or dimension authority, means the road authority for the participating jurisdiction in which the road for which the relevant road manager is a road manager is situated.

s 163 sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

164Information notice for imposition of road conditions requested by road manager

(1)This section applies if—
(a)the Regulator grants a mass or dimension authority by giving a person a permit; and
(b)the authority is subject to a road condition required by a relevant road manager for the authority when consenting to the grant of the authority.
(2)The information notice for the decision to impose the condition given to the person under this Law must state the following, in addition to any other information required to be included in the information notice—
(a)that the road manager consented to the mass or dimension authority on the condition that the road condition is imposed on the authority;
(b)a written statement that explains the road manager’s decision to give the consent on the condition that the road condition be imposed on the authority and complies with section 172;
(c)the review and appeal information for the road manager’s decision to give the consent on the condition that the road condition be imposed on the authority.

s 164 sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

165Information notice for imposition of travel conditions requested by road manager

(1)This section applies if—
(a)the Regulator grants a mass or dimension authority by giving a person a permit; and
(b)the authority is subject to a travel condition required by a relevant road manager for the authority when consenting to the grant of the authority.
(2)The information notice for the decision to impose the condition given to the person under this Law must state the following, in addition to any other information required to be included in the information notice—
(a)that the road manager consented to the mass or dimension authority on the condition that the travel condition is imposed on the authority;
(b)a written statement that explains the road manager’s decision to give the consent on the condition that the travel condition be imposed on the authority and complies with section 172;
(c)the review and appeal information for the road manager’s decision to give the consent on the condition that the travel condition be imposed on the authority.

s 165 sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

166Information notice for decision to refuse application because road manager did not give consent

(1)This section applies if an application for a mass or dimension authority is refused, wholly or partly, because a relevant road manager for the authority has refused to consent to the authority.
(2)The information notice for the decision to refuse the application given to the applicant under this Law must state the following, in addition to any other information required to be included in the information notice—
(a)that the road manager has refused to consent to the mass or dimension authority;
(b)a written statement that explains the road manager’s decision to refuse to give the consent and complies with section 172;
(c)the review and appeal information for the road manager’s decision to refuse to give the consent.

s 166 sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

167Expedited procedure for road manager’s consent for renewal of mass or dimension authority

(1)This section applies if—
(a)the relevant road manager has previously consented to a grant of a mass or dimension authority (the previous authority); and
(b)the Regulator proposes to grant a mass or dimension authority (the proposed replacement authority) by way of renewal so as to replace the previous authority on its expiry; and
(c)the Regulator proposes to impose the same conditions on the proposed replacement authority as applied to the previous authority; and
(d)the Regulator informs the relevant road manager that the Regulator is seeking to obtain the manager’s consent in accordance with the procedure under this section (the expedited procedure).
(2)However, this section does not apply, or ceases to apply, if—
(a)there are differences between the terms of the previous authority and the terms of the proposed replacement authority, including, for example—
(i)differences relating to the description of the type of heavy vehicle covered by the proposed replacement authority; and
(ii)additional, deleted or varied conditions; and
(iii)the inclusion of additional areas or routes; or
(b)the relevant road manager gives the Regulator a notice of objection to the application of this section to the proposed replacement authority and that notice of objection is given within the period (the relevant period) of—
(i)14 days after the request for consent is made; or
(ii)28 days after the request for consent is made if the road manager seeks the extension of time within the initial 14 days; or
(c)the Regulator gives the relevant road manager a notice that the Regulator withdraws the proposed replacement authority from the expedited procedure; or
(d)a law of this jurisdiction requires consultation with third parties before the grant of the proposed replacement authority or before access to a particular route or area covered by it is given.
(3)The road manager is taken to have given the consent at the end of the relevant period to the grant of the proposed replacement authority on the same conditions as applied to the previous authority, unless before the end of that period the road manager gives written notice to the Regulator that the road manager gives or refuses consent.

s 167 sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

168Operation of section 167

(1)Sections 156 to 166 do not apply to a request for consent while a proposed replacement authority is being dealt with under the expedited procedure under section 167.
(2)Those sections apply to the request for consent if section 167 does not apply or ceases to apply, as referred to in section 167(2).

s 168 sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

169Granting limited consent for trial purposes

(1)A relevant road manager may give consent to the grant of a mass or dimension authority for a trial period of no more than 3 months specified by the road manager.
(2)The trial period determines the maximum period for which the mass or dimension authority applies.
(3)If there is more than one relevant road manager in relation to a proposed mass or dimension authority, the consent of one or more of the road managers is ineffective unless all the road managers give their consent to the same effect.

s 169 sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

170Renewal of limited consent for trial purposes

(1)The Regulator must notify each relevant road manager that gave consent under section 169 that the mass or dimension authority concerned will be renewed with effect from the end of the current period of its duration unless action is taken under this section.
(2)The notification must be given at least one month before the end of the current trial period.
(3)The Regulator must renew the mass or dimension authority for a further trial period of no more than 3 months, unless the Regulator receives a written objection to its renewal from a relevant road manager within the current trial period.
(4)The mass or dimension authority is renewable for one or more further trial periods.

s 170 sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

171Period for which mass or dimension authority applies where limited consent

(1)This section applies where a mass or dimension exemption is granted under section 169 or 170.
(2)In the case of a mass or dimension exemption (permit) or a class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (permit), the period for which the permit applies must not exceed the length of the trial period.
(3)In the case of a mass or dimension exemption (notice) or a class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (notice), then, despite section 120 or 141, the period for which the notice applies is so much of the period stated in the Commonwealth Gazette notice referred to in that section as does not exceed the trial period.

s 171 sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

172Requirements for statement explaining adverse decision of road manager

(1)This section applies to a written statement explaining a decision of a relevant road manager under this Division—
(a)not to give consent to the grant of a mass or dimension authority (as referred to in section 156A); or
(b)to consent to the grant of a mass or dimension authority on the condition that—
(i)a road condition is imposed on the authority (as referred to in section 160); or
(ii)a travel condition is imposed on the authority (as referred to in section 161).
(2)The written statement complies with this section if it—
(a)sets out the findings on material questions of fact, referring to the evidence or other material on which those findings were based and giving the reasons for the road manager’s decision; and
(b)identifies every document or part of a document that is relevant to the road manager’s decision and is—
(i)in the road manager’s possession; or
(ii)under the road manager’s control; or
(iii)otherwise available to the road manager.

s 172 sub 2013 No. 4 s 12

amd 2018 No. 18 s 17

Division 3 Amendment, cancellation or suspension of mass or dimension authority granted by Commonwealth Gazette notice

173Amendment or cancellation on Regulator’s initiative

(1)It is a ground for amending or cancelling a mass or dimension authority granted by Commonwealth Gazette notice if the use of heavy vehicles on a road under the authority has caused, or is likely to cause, a significant risk to public safety.
(2)If the Regulator considers a ground exists to amend or cancel the mass or dimension authority, the Regulator may amend or cancel the authority by complying with subsections (3) to (5).
(3)The Regulator must publish a public notice—
(a)stating that the Regulator believes a ground exists to amend or cancel the authority; and
(b)outlining the facts and circumstances forming the basis for the belief; and
(c)stating the action the Regulator is proposing to take under this section (the proposed action); and
(d)inviting persons who will be affected by the proposed action to make, within a stated time of at least 14 days after the Commonwealth Gazette notice is published, written representations about why the proposed action should not be taken.
(4)If, after considering all written representations made under subsection (3)(d), the Regulator still considers a ground exists to take the proposed action, the Regulator may—
(a)if the proposed action was to amend the mass or dimension authority—amend the authority in a way that is not substantially different from the proposed action, including, for example, by—
(i)amending the areas or routes to which the authority applies; or
(ii)amending the days or hours to which the authority applies; or
(iii)imposing additional vehicle conditions on the authority; or
(b)if the proposed action was to cancel the mass or dimension authority—
(i)amend the authority, including, for example, as mentioned in paragraph (a)(i), (ii) or (iii); or
(ii)cancel the authority.
(5)The Regulator must publish a public notice of the amendment or cancellation.
(6)The amendment or cancellation takes effect—
(a)28 days after the Commonwealth Gazette notice is published under subsection (5); or
(b)if a later time is stated in the Commonwealth Gazette notice, at the later time.

s 173 amd 2016 No. 65 s 122

174Amendment or cancellation on request by relevant road manager

(1)This section applies if a relevant road manager for a mass or dimension authority granted by Commonwealth Gazette notice is satisfied the use of heavy vehicles on a road under the authority—
(a)has caused, or is likely to cause, damage to road infrastructure; or
(b)has had, or is likely to have, an adverse effect on the community arising from noise, emissions or traffic congestion or from other matters stated in approved guidelines; or
(c)has posed, or is likely to pose, a significant risk to public safety arising from heavy vehicle use that is incompatible with road infrastructure or traffic conditions.
(2)The road manager may ask the Regulator to—
(a)amend the mass or dimension authority by—
(ia)amending the category of vehicle to which the authority applies; or
(ib)amending the type of load that may be carried by vehicles to which the authority applies; or
(i)amending the areas or routes to which the authority applies; or
(ii)amending the days or hours to which the authority applies; or
(iii)imposing or amending road conditions or travel conditions; or
(b)cancel the authority.
(3)The Regulator must comply with the request.
(4)However, if consent to the grant of the mass or dimension authority was given by a road authority under section 163
(a)the Regulator may refer the request to the road authority; and
(b)if the road authority gives the Regulator its written approval of the request, the Regulator must comply with the request; and
(c)if the road authority does not give written approval of the road manager’s request within 28 days after the referral is made, the Regulator—
(i)must not comply with the request; and
(ii)must notify the road manager that the road authority has not given its written approval of the request and, as a result, the Regulator must not comply with it.
(5)The Regulator must publish a public notice of the amendment or cancellation.
(6)The amendment or cancellation takes effect—
(a)28 days after the Commonwealth Gazette notice is published under subsection (5); or
(b)if a later time is stated in the Commonwealth Gazette notice, at the later time.

s 174 amd 2016 No. 65 s 123

175Immediate suspension

(1)This section applies if the Regulator considers it is necessary to suspend a mass or dimension authority granted by Commonwealth Gazette notice immediately to prevent or minimise serious harm to public safety or significant damage to road infrastructure.
(2)The Regulator may, by public notice, immediately suspend the authority until the earliest of the following—
(a)the end of 56 days after the day the public notice is published;
(b)the Regulator publishes a notice under section 173(5) or 174(5) and the amendment or cancellation takes effect under section 173(6) or 174(6);
(c)the Regulator cancels the suspension by public notice.
(4)The suspension, and (where relevant) the cancellation of the suspension, takes effect immediately after the Commonwealth Gazette notice is published under subsection (3).
(5)This section applies despite sections 173 and 174.

s 175 amd 2016 No. 65 s 124

175A Minor amendment

(1)The Regulator may amend a mass or dimension authority, granted by Commonwealth Gazette notice, in a minor respect—
(a)for a formal or clerical reason; or
(b)in another way that does not adversely affect the interests of a person who is operating under the authority.
(2)The Regulator must publish a public notice of the amendment.

s 175A ins 2016 No. 65 s 125

Division 4 Amendment, cancellation or suspension of mass or dimension authority granted by permit

176Amendment or cancellation on application by permit holder

(1)The holder of a permit for a mass or dimension authority may apply to the Regulator for an amendment or cancellation of the authority.
(2)The application must—
(a)be in writing; and
(b)be accompanied by the prescribed fee for the application; and
(c)if the application is for an amendment, state clearly the amendment sought and the reasons for the amendment; and
(d)be accompanied by the permit.
(3)The Regulator may, by notice given to the applicant, require the applicant to give the Regulator any additional information the Regulator reasonably requires to decide the application.
(4)If the proposed amendment of the mass or dimension authority is—
(a)to amend the areas or routes to which the authority applies (otherwise than by omitting an area or route or reducing an area or route in size); or
(b)to impose or amend road conditions or travel conditions;

then—

(c)the Regulator must ask the relevant road managers (for the roads to which the amendment relates) for their consent to the amendment; and
(d)the provisions of Division 2 apply to the request for consent in the same way as they apply to a request for consent under that Division, with the modifications (if any) prescribed by the national regulations and with any necessary modifications.

(5)The Regulator must decide the application as soon as practicable after receiving it.
(6)If the Regulator decides to grant the application—
(a)the Regulator must give the applicant notice of the decision; and
(b)the amendment or cancellation takes effect—
(i)when notice of the decision is given to the applicant; or
(ii)if a later time is stated in the notice, at the later time; and
(c)if the Regulator amended the authority, the Regulator must give the applicant a replacement permit for the authority as amended.
(d)if the authority is amended to change the vehicle to which the authority applies to an equivalent vehicle, the Regulator must give notice of the amendment to the relevant road manager within 28 days after the authority is amended.
(7)If the Regulator decides not to amend or cancel the mass or dimension authority as sought by the applicant, the Regulator must—
(a)give the applicant an information notice for the decision; and
(b)return the permit for the authority to the applicant.
(8)In this section—
equivalent vehicle, of another vehicle, means a vehicle that—
(a)is of the same category as the other vehicle; and
(b)has mass requirements that are no more than the mass requirements applying to the other vehicle; and
(c)has dimension requirements that are no more than the dimension requirements applying to the other vehicle; and
(d)poses no greater public risk than the other vehicle.

s 176 amd 2016 No. 65 s 126

177Amendment or cancellation on Regulator’s initiative

(1)Each of the following is a ground for amending or cancelling a mass or dimension authority granted by giving a person a permit—
(a)the authority was granted because of a document or representation that was—
(i)false or misleading; or
(ii)obtained or made in an improper way;
(b)the holder of the permit for the authority has contravened a condition of the authority;
(c)the use of heavy vehicles on a road under the authority has caused, or is likely to cause, a significant risk to public safety.
(2)If the Regulator considers a ground exists to amend or cancel a mass or dimension authority granted by giving a person a permit (the proposed action), the Regulator must give the holder of the permit a notice—
(a)stating the proposed action; and
(b)stating the ground for the proposed action; and
(c)outlining the facts and circumstances forming the basis for the ground; and
(d)if the proposed action is to amend the authority (including a condition of the authority)—stating the proposed amendment; and
(e)inviting the holder to make, within a stated time of at least 14 days after the notice is given to the holder, written representations about why the proposed action should not be taken.
(3)If, after considering all written representations made under subsection (2)(e), the Regulator still considers a ground exists to take the proposed action, the Regulator may—
(a)if the proposed action was to amend the mass or dimension authority—amend the authority in a way that is not substantially different from the proposed action, including, for example, by—
(i)amending the areas or routes to which the authority applies; or
(ii)amending the days or hours to which the authority applies; or
(iii)imposing additional vehicle conditions on the authority; or
(b)if the proposed action was to cancel the authority—
(i)amend the authority, including, for example, as mentioned in paragraph (a)(i), (ii) or (iii); or
(ii)cancel the authority.
(4)The Regulator must give the holder an information notice for the decision.
(5)The amendment or cancellation takes effect—
(a)when the information notice is given to the holder; or
(b)if a later time is stated in the information notice, at the later time.

178Amendment or cancellation on request by relevant road manager

(1)This section applies if a relevant road manager for a mass or dimension authority granted by giving a person a permit is satisfied the use of heavy vehicles on a road under the authority—
(a)has caused, or is likely to cause, damage to road infrastructure; or
(b)has had, or is likely to have, an adverse effect on the community arising from noise, emissions or traffic congestion or from other matters stated in approved guidelines; or
(c)has posed, or is likely to pose, a significant risk to public safety arising from heavy vehicle use that is incompatible with road infrastructure or traffic conditions.
(2)The road manager may ask the Regulator to—
(a)amend the mass or dimension authority, including, for example, by—
(i)amending the areas or routes to which the authority applies; or
(ii)amending the days or hours to which the authority applies; or
(iii)imposing or amending road conditions or travel conditions on the authority; or
(b)cancel the authority.
(3)The Regulator must comply with the request.
(4)However, if consent to the grant of the mass or dimension authority was given by a road authority under section 163
(a)the Regulator may refer the request to the road authority; and
(b)if the road authority gives the Regulator its written approval of the request, the Regulator must comply with the request; and
(c)if the road authority does not give written approval of the request within 28 days after the referral is made, the Regulator—
(i)must not comply with the request; and
(ii)must notify the road manager that the road authority has not given its written approval of the request and, as a result, the Regulator must not comply with it.
(5)If the mass or dimension authority is amended or cancelled under this section, the Regulator must give the holder of the permit for the authority notice of the amendment or cancellation at least 28 days before the amendment or cancellation is to take effect.
(6)The notice given to the holder must state—
(a)the day the amendment or cancellation is to take effect; and
(b)the reasons given by the road manager for the amendment or cancellation; and
(c)the review and appeal information for the road manager’s decision.

179Immediate suspension

(1)This section applies if the Regulator considers it is necessary to suspend a mass or dimension authority granted by issuing a permit to someone immediately to prevent or minimise serious harm to public safety or significant damage to road infrastructure.
(2)The Regulator may, by notice (immediate suspension notice) given to the person to whom the permit was given, immediately suspend the authority until the earliest of the following—
(a)the Regulator gives the person a notice under section 177(4) or 178(5) and the amendment or cancellation takes effect under section 177(5) or 178;
(b)the Regulator cancels the suspension;
(c)the end of 56 days after the day the immediate suspension notice is given to the person.
(3)This section applies despite sections 176, 177 and 178.

180Minor amendment of permit for a mass or dimension authority

(1)The Regulator may, by notice given to the holder of a permit for a mass or dimension authority, amend the authority in a minor respect—
(a)for a formal or clerical reason; or
(b)in another way that does not adversely affect the holder’s interests.
(2)The Regulator must give notice of the amendment to the relevant road manager—
(a)if the authority is amended for a formal or clerical reason—within 28 days after the authority is amended; or
(b)if the authority is amended in another way—as soon as practicable, but no later than 7 days, after the authority is amended.

s 180 amd 2016 No. 65 s 127

Division 5 Provisions about permits for mass or dimension authorities

181Return of permit

(1)This section applies to a mass or dimension authority granted by giving a person a permit.
(2)If the mass or dimension authority is amended or cancelled, the Regulator may, by notice, require the person to return the person’s permit for the authority to the Regulator.
(3)The person must comply with the notice within 7 days after the notice is given to the person or, if a longer period is stated in the notice, within the longer period.

Maximum penalty—$4000.

(4)If the mass or dimension authority has been amended, the Regulator must give the person a replacement permit for the authority as amended.

182Replacement of defaced etc. permit

(1)If a person’s permit for a mass or dimension authority is defaced, destroyed, lost or stolen, the person must, as soon as reasonably practicable after becoming aware of the matter, apply to the Regulator for a replacement permit.

Maximum penalty—$4000.

(2)If the Regulator is satisfied the permit has been defaced, destroyed, lost or stolen, the Regulator must give the person a replacement permit as soon as practicable.
(3)If the Regulator decides not to give a replacement permit to the person, the Regulator must give the person an information notice for the decision.

Part 4.8 [Repealed]

pt hdg om 2016 No. 65 s 26

183[Repealed]

s 183 om 2016 No. 65 s 26

Part 4.9 Other offences

Division 1 Towing restriction

184Towing restriction

(1)A person must not drive a heavy motor vehicle towing more than 1 other vehicle.

Maximum penalty—$3000.

(2)Subsection (1) does not apply to a person driving a heavy vehicle—
(a)under a mass or dimension authority; or
(b)in circumstances prescribed by the national regulations.

Division 2 Coupling requirements

185Requirements about coupling trailers

(1)A person commits an offence if—
(a)the person uses, or permits to be used, on a road a heavy combination; and
(b)a trailer in the combination is not securely coupled to the vehicle in front of it.

Maximum penalty—$6000.

(2)A person commits an offence if—
(a)the person uses, or permits to be used, on a road a heavy combination; and
(b)the components of a coupling used between vehicles in the heavy combination are not compatible with, or properly connected to, each other.

Maximum penalty—$6000.

(3)In this section—
coupling means a device used to couple a vehicle in a combination to the vehicle in front of it.

Division 3 Transport documentation

186False or misleading transport documentation for goods

(1)This section applies if goods are consigned for road transport using a heavy vehicle, or for transport partly by road using a heavy vehicle and partly by some other means.
(2)The consignor of the goods must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the consignment documentation is not false or misleading.

Maximum penalty—$10000.

(3)If the goods are Australian-packed goods, the packer of the goods must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the consignment documentation is not false or misleading.

Maximum penalty—$10000.

(4)If the goods are overseas-packed goods, the receiver of the goods must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the consignment documentation is not false or misleading.

Maximum penalty—$10000.

(5)If the goods are loaded on the heavy vehicle, the loading manager for, or loader of, the goods must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the consignment documentation is not false or misleading.

Maximum penalty—$10000.

(8)In a proceeding for an offence against subsection (2), (3), (4) or (5), it is enough for a charge to state that the transport documentation was ‘false or misleading’, without specifying whether it was false or whether it was misleading.
(9)In this section—
Australian-packed goods means goods packed—
(a)in Australia; and
(b)on a pallet or in a package, freight container or other container.
consignment documentation, for goods, means the transport documentation for the consignment of the goods, in so far as the documentation relates to the mass, dimension or loading of any or all of the goods.
overseas-packed goods means goods packed—
(a)outside Australia; and
(b)on a pallet or in a package, freight container or other container.
receiver, of goods in Australia, means a person who, other than the person who merely unloads the goods—
(a)first receives the goods in Australia; or
(b)unpacks the goods after the goods are first unloaded in Australia.

s 186 amd 2016 No. 65 s 27

187False or misleading information in container weight declaration

(1)This section applies in relation to a freight container to be transported by road using a heavy vehicle, or partly by road using a heavy vehicle and partly by some other means.
(2)The responsible entity for the freight container must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the container weight declaration for the container that is given to an operator of the heavy vehicle is not false or misleading.

Maximum penalty—$10000.

(3)An operator of the heavy vehicle must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the container weight declaration for the container that is given to the vehicle’s driver is not false or misleading.

Maximum penalty—$10000.

(4)For the purposes of this section, information in a container weight declaration is not false or misleading merely because it overstates the actual weight of the freight container and its contents.
(7)In a proceeding for an offence against subsection (2) or (3), it is enough for a charge to state that information contained in the container weight declaration was ‘false or misleading’, without specifying whether it was false or whether it was misleading.

s 187 amd 2016 No. 65 s 28

Division 4 Other offences about container weight declarations

188Application of Div 4

This Division applies to a freight container consigned for road transport using a heavy vehicle, or for transport partly by road using a heavy vehicle and partly by some other means.

189Meaning of complying container weight declaration

A container weight declaration for a freight container is a complying container weight declaration if—
(a)it contains the following additional information—
(i)the number and other particulars of the freight container necessary to identify the container;
(ii)the name and residential address or business address in Australia of the responsible entity for the freight container;
(iii)the date the container weight declaration is made; and
(b)it is written and easily legible.

s 189 amd 2015 No. 12 s 15

190Duty of responsible entity

(1)The responsible entity for the freight container must ensure an operator or driver of a heavy vehicle does not transport the freight container by road using the vehicle without a complying container weight declaration for the freight container containing information in the form required under section 192A, unless the responsible entity has a reasonable excuse.

Maximum penalty—$6000.

s 190 amd 2015 No. 12 s 16; 2016 No. 65 s 29

191Duty of operator

(1)An operator of a heavy vehicle must ensure the vehicle’s driver does not transport the freight container by road using the vehicle without a complying container weight declaration for the freight container containing information in the form required under section 192A.

Maximum penalty—$6000.

(2)If the driver of a heavy vehicle does not have the complying container weight declaration when transporting the freight container by road using the vehicle, an operator of the vehicle is taken to have contravened subsection (1) unless the operator—
(a)proves that the driver was provided with the declaration before the driver started transporting the freight container; or
(b)has a reasonable excuse.
(3)If the freight container is to be transported by another carrier, an operator of a heavy vehicle must, unless the operator has a reasonable excuse, ensure the freight container is not given to the carrier unless the carrier has been provided with—
(a)a complying container weight declaration for the freight container containing information in the form required under section 192A; or
(b)the prescribed particulars contained in a complying container weight declaration for the freight container.

Maximum penalty—$6000.

(6)In this section—
another carrier means another operator of a heavy vehicle or another person who is to transport the freight container other than by road.
prescribed particulars, contained in a complying container weight declaration for a freight container, means—
(a)information about the weight of the freight container and its contents; and
(b)the information mentioned in section 189(a).

s 191 amd 2015 No. 12 s 17; 2016 No. 65 s 30

192Duty of driver

(1)A person must not drive a heavy vehicle loaded with the freight container on a road without a complying weight declaration for the container, unless the person has a reasonable excuse.

Maximum penalty—$6000.

(2)The driver of a heavy vehicle loaded with the freight container must, unless the driver has a reasonable excuse, when driving the vehicle on a road, keep the complying container weight declaration for the container—
(a)in or about the vehicle; and
(b)in a way that ensures information in the declaration is in the form required under section 192A.

Maximum penalty—$3000.

s 192 amd 2015 No. 12 s 18; 2016 No. 65 s 31

192AForm of information in container weight declaration

(1)This section applies for the purposes of sections 190(1), 191(1) and (3)(a) and 192(2)(b).
(2)The responsible entity, operator or driver must ensure the information in the container weight declaration is in a form readily available to an authorised officer who seeks to ascertain it while in the presence of the freight container, including, for example, by—
(a)examining documents located in the heavy vehicle on which the freight container is loaded or to be loaded; or
(b)examining documents made available to the authorised officer on an electronic device or otherwise in electronic form.

s 192A ins 2015 No. 12 s 19

amd 2018 No. 10 s 21

Division 5 Other offences

193Weight of freight container exceeding weight stated on container or safety approval plate

(1)This section applies if a freight container contains goods consigned for road transport using a heavy vehicle, or for transport partly by road using a heavy vehicle and partly by some other means.
(2)Each consignor or packer of the goods must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the weight of the container does not exceed the maximum gross weight marked on—
(a)the container; or
(b)the container’s safety approval plate.

Maximum penalty—$10000.

(5)In this section—
safety approval plate, for a freight container, means the safety approval plate required to be attached to the container under the International Convention for Safe Containers set out in Schedule 5 of the Navigation Act 1912 of the Commonwealth.

s 193 amd 2016 No. 65 s 32

194[Repealed]

s 194 om 2016 No. 65 s 33

Part 4.10 Other provisions

195Conflicting mass requirements

(1)This section applies if 2 or more conflicting mass requirements apply to a heavy vehicle.
(2)Of the conflicting requirements, the requirement imposing the lower or lowest mass limit applies to the heavy vehicle and the other requirement or requirements must be disregarded to the extent of the conflict.

196Conflicting dimension requirements

(1)This section applies if 2 or more conflicting dimension requirements apply to a heavy vehicle.
(2)Of the conflicting requirements, the requirement imposing the more or most restrictive dimension limit applies to the heavy vehicle and the other requirement or requirements must be disregarded to the extent of the conflict.

197Exemption from compliance with particular requirements in emergency

(1)The Regulator may, orally or in writing, exempt a heavy vehicle, or the driver or operator of a heavy vehicle, from a prescribed requirement if the Regulator is satisfied—
(a)the vehicle is being used, or is intended to be used, in an emergency, including, for example, a fire, explosion or natural disaster—
(i)to protect life or property; or
(ii)to restore communication or the supply of energy or water or services, including, for example, sewage disposal; and
(b)granting the exemption will not create an unreasonable danger to other road users.
(2)An exemption granted under subsection (1) may be subject to conditions the Regulator considers appropriate.
(3)If an exemption is granted orally under subsection (1), the Regulator must, as soon as practicable—
(a)make a written record of the exemption and any conditions to which it is subject; and
(b)give a copy of the written record to an operator of the heavy vehicle to which it relates.
(4)An exemption under this section has effect only while the conditions, if any, to which it is subject are complied with.
(5)The Regulator is to notify the relevant road authority of the grant of an exemption under subsection (1) as soon as practicable after it is granted.
(6)In this section—
prescribed requirement means—
(a)a mass requirement; or
(b)a dimension requirement; or
(c)a requirement under Part 4.5, including, for example, a requirement to comply with a condition of an exemption under that Part; or
(d)a requirement under Part 4.6, including, for example, a requirement to comply with a condition of an authorisation under that Part.
relevant road authority, for an exemption granted under subsection (1), means the road authority for the participating jurisdiction in which the road likely to be travelled under the exemption is situated.

198Recovery of losses arising from non-provision of container weight declaration

(1)This section applies if the driver of a heavy vehicle transporting a freight container by road using the vehicle has not been provided with a container weight declaration for the freight container before starting to transport the freight container.
(2)A person who has incurred a loss as a result of the declaration not being provided (the plaintiff) has a right to recover the loss from the responsible entity for the freight container.
(3)For the purposes of subsection (2), the losses that may be recovered include the following—
(a)loss incurred from delays in the delivery of the freight container, any of its contents or any other goods;
(b)loss incurred from the damage to or spoliation of anything contained in the freight container;
(c)loss incurred from providing another heavy vehicle, and loss incurred from delays arising from providing another heavy vehicle;
(d)costs or expenses incurred for weighing the freight container or any of its contents.
(4)The plaintiff may enforce the plaintiff’s right to recovery under subsection (2) by bringing a proceeding in a court of competent jurisdiction for an order for payment of the monetary value of the loss.

199Recovery of losses for provision of inaccurate container weight declaration

(1)This section applies if—
(a)an operator or driver of a heavy vehicle transporting a freight container by road using the vehicle has been provided with a container weight declaration for the freight container; and
(b)the declaration contains information (the false or misleading information) that is false or misleading because it—
(i)understates the weight of the container; or
(ii)otherwise indicates the weight of the container is lower than its actual weight; and
(c)a contravention of a mass requirement applying to the heavy vehicle occurs as a result of the operator or driver relying on the false or misleading information; and
(d)at the relevant time, the operator or driver either—
(i)had a reasonable belief the vehicle was not in contravention of the mass requirement; or
(ii)did not know, and ought not reasonably to have known, that the minimum weight stated in the declaration was lower than the actual weight of the container.
(2)A person who has incurred a loss as a result of the declaration containing the false or misleading information (the plaintiff) has a right to recover the loss from the responsible entity for the freight container.
(3)For the purposes of subsection (2), the losses that may be recovered include the following—
(a)the amount of a fine or other penalty imposed on the plaintiff for an offence against this Law;
(b)the amount of a fine or other penalty imposed on an employee or agent of the plaintiff for an offence against this Law and reimbursed by the plaintiff;
(c)loss incurred from delays in the delivery of the freight container, any of its contents, or any other goods;
(d)loss incurred from the damage to or spoliation of anything contained in the freight container;
(e)loss incurred from providing another heavy vehicle, and loss incurred from delays arising from providing another heavy vehicle;
(f)costs or expenses incurred for weighing the freight container or any of its contents.
(4)The plaintiff may enforce the plaintiff’s right to recovery under subsection (2) by bringing a proceeding in a court of competent jurisdiction for an order for payment of the monetary value of the loss.

s 199 amd 2016 No. 65 s 34

200Recovery by responsible entity of amount paid under s 199

(1)This section applies if, under section 199, a person brings a proceeding (a recovery proceeding) in a court for an order that the responsible entity for a freight container pay the person an amount for loss incurred by the person as a result of the container weight declaration for the freight container containing false or misleading information mentioned in section 199(1)(b).
(2)The responsible entity has a right to recover from a person (the information provider) who provided the responsible entity with all or part of the false or misleading information the part of the amount (the attributable amount) attributable to the information provided by the information provider.
(3)The responsible entity may enforce the entity’s right to recovery under subsection (2) by—
(a)if the recovery proceeding has not been decided— joining the information provider in the proceeding and applying to the court for an order that the information provider pay the attributable amount to the responsible entity if an order is made under section 199(4); or
(b)if the recovery proceeding has been decided—bringing a proceeding in a court of competent jurisdiction for an order that the information provider pay the attributable amount to the responsible entity.

201Assessment of monetary value or attributable amount

(1)The court may assess the monetary value of a loss recoverable under section 198(2) or 199(2), or the attributable amount recoverable under section 200(2), in the way it considers appropriate.
(2)In making the assessment, the court may have regard to the matters it considers appropriate, including any evidence adduced in a proceeding for an offence against this Law.

Chapter 5 [Repealed]

ch hdg om 2016 No. 65 s 35

Part 5.1 [Repealed]

pt hdg om 2016 No. 65 s 35

202[Repealed]

s 202 om 2016 No. 65 s 35

203[Repealed]

s 203 om 2016 No. 65 s 35

Part 5.2 [Repealed]

pt hdg om 2016 No. 65 s 35

Division 1 [Repealed]

div hdg om 2016 No. 65 s 35

204[Repealed]

s 204 om 2016 No. 65 s 35

205[Repealed]

s 205 om 2016 No. 65 s 35

206[Repealed]

s 206 om 2016 No. 65 s 35

Division 2 [Repealed]

div hdg om 2016 No. 65 s 35

207[Repealed]

s 207 om 2016 No. 65 s 35

208[Repealed]

s 208 amd 2015 No. 12 s 67 sch

om 2016 No. 65 s 35

Division 3 [Repealed]

div hdg om 2016 No. 65 s 35

209[Repealed]

s 209 om 2016 No. 65 s 35

Division 4 [Repealed]

div hdg om 2016 No. 65 s 35

210[Repealed]

s 210 om 2016 No. 65 s 35

211[Repealed]

s 211 om 2016 No. 65 s 35

212[Repealed]

s 212 om 2016 No. 65 s 35

213[Repealed]

s 213 amd 2015 No. 12 s 67 sch

om 2016 No. 65 s 35

Division 5 [Repealed]

div hdg om 2016 No. 65 s 35

214[Repealed]

s 214 om 2016 No. 65 s 35

215[Repealed]

s 215 om 2016 No. 65 s 35

216[Repealed]

s 216 om 2016 No. 65 s 35

Division 6 [Repealed]

div hdg om 2016 No. 65 s 35

217[Repealed]

s 217 om 2016 No. 65 s 35

218[Repealed]

s 218 om 2016 No. 65 s 35

Part 5.3 [Repealed]

pt hdg om 2016 No. 65 s 35

219[Repealed]

s 219 om 2016 No. 65 s 35

Chapter 6 Vehicle operations—driver fatigue

Part 6.1 Preliminary

220Main purpose of Ch 6

(1)The main purpose of this Chapter is to provide for the safe management of the fatigue of drivers of fatigue-regulated heavy vehicles while they are driving on a road.
(2)The main purpose is achieved by—
(a)imposing duties on drivers of fatigue-regulated heavy vehicles and particular persons whose activities influence the conduct of drivers of fatigue-regulated heavy vehicles in a way that affects the drivers’ fatigue when driving on a road; and
(b)imposing general duties directed at preventing persons driving fatigue-regulated heavy vehicles on a road while impaired by fatigue; and
(c)imposing additional duties directed at helping drivers of fatigue-regulated heavy vehicles to comply with this Chapter, which are imposed on particular parties in the chain of responsibility; and
(d)providing for the maximum work requirements and minimum rest requirements applying to drivers of fatigue-regulated heavy vehicles; and
(e)providing for recording the work times and rest times of drivers, amongst other things.

221Definitions for Ch 6

In this Chapter—
100km work has the meaning given by section 289(1).
100+km work has the meaning given by section 289(2).
AFM fatigue management system has the meaning given by section 457.
AFM hours has the meaning given by section 257.
approved electronic recording system means an electronic recording system the subject of a current approval under section 343 or a corresponding fatigue law.
approved sleeper berth means—
(a)for a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle other than a fatigue-regulated bus—a driver’s sleeper berth that complies with ADR 42 and is able to be used by the driver when resting; or
(b)for a fatigue-regulated bus—a driver’s sleeper berth that—
(i)complies with a standard for sleeper berths that is approved by the responsible Ministers under section 654; and
(ii)is able to be used by the driver when resting.
BFM hours has the meaning given by section 253.
cancel, in relation to an unused daily sheet in a written work diary, means cancel by writing ‘cancelled’ in large letters across the sheet.
cause of fatigue means any factor that could cause or contribute to a person being fatigued while driving a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle on a road (whether or not the cause arises while the person is at work).

Examples—

physical or mental exertion
long periods of time awake
not enough sleep or not enough restorative sleep
not enough rest time
a person’s circadian rhythm (body clock)
environmental stress factors, including heat, noise, vibrations
personal health
corresponding fatigue law
1
A corresponding fatigue law is a law of a non-participating jurisdiction that provides for the same, or substantially the same, matters as this Chapter.
2
A corresponding fatigue law for a provision of this Chapter is a provision of a corresponding fatigue law within the meaning of paragraph 1 that corresponds, or substantially corresponds, to the provision of this Chapter.
3For the purposes of paragraph 1, it is irrelevant whether the law of the non-participating jurisdiction—
(a)is in 1 instrument or 2 or more instruments; or
(b)is part of an instrument; or
(c)is part of an instrument and the whole or part of 1 or more other instruments.
critical risk breach, for a maximum work requirement or minimum rest requirement, has the meaning given by section 222(4).
daily sheet, for a written work diary, has the meaning given by section 338(2)(b).
electronic recording system means a system of recording information electronically.
electronic work diary, in relation to a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle, means all or part of an approved electronic recording system that is fitted to or used in relation to the vehicle to record information a driver of the vehicle is required by this Law to record in a work diary for the purposes of this Law.

def electronic work diary sub 2015 No. 12 s 20(1)–(2)

electronic work diary label ...

def electronic work diary label om 2015 No. 12 s 20(1)

entry, in a work record, means anything written or otherwise recorded in the work record.

def entry amd 2015 No. 12 s 20(3)

exemption hours has the meaning given by section 259.
fatigue has the meaning given by section 223.
impaired by fatigue has the meaning given by section 225.
intelligent access program reporting entity, for an approved intelligent transport system, means a person on whom there is an obligation, imposed by Chapter 7, to report a malfunction of or tampering with the system to the Regulator.

def intelligent access program reporting entity amd 2016 No. 65 s 139

loading manager

Note—

Section 5 contains the definition loading manager. That definition is affected by the definition regular loading or unloading premises, and is used in this Chapter.

As a result of the interaction of the 2 definitions, this Chapter applies to a person as a loading manager only if the premises concerned are premises at or from which an average of at least 5 fatigue-regulated heavy vehicles are loaded or unloaded on each day the premises are operated for loading or unloading heavy vehicles.

def loading manager amd 2016 No. 65 s 36(1)

major rest break means rest time of at least 5 continuous hours.
malfunction, of an electronic work diary or an odometer, means the work diary or odometer
(a)ceases to work at all, or works only intermittently; or
(b)does not perform 1 or more functions required under this Chapter; or
(c)performs the functions mentioned in paragraph (b) only intermittently; or
(d)performs the functions mentioned in paragraph (b) in a way that is inaccurate or unreliable, including intermittently inaccurate or unreliable.

Examples of an electronic work diary malfunctioning—

corruption of data held in the electronic work diary
a software program fault
physical damage that impairs the functioning of the electronic work diary

Example of an odometer malfunctioning—

an odometer that no longer keeps an accurate record of distance travelled
minor risk breach has the meaning given by section 222(1).
night work time means work time between midnight and 6a.m.

Note—

Under sections 248 and 303, the time must be based on the time zone of the driver’s base for drivers on a journey in a different time zone to the driver’s base.
non-participating jurisdiction means a State or Territory that is not a participating jurisdiction.
participating jurisdiction means a State or Territory in which—
(a)this Chapter applies as a law of the State or Territory; or
(b)a law containing provisions that substantially correspond to the provisions of this Chapter is in force.
party in the chain of responsibility ...

def party in the chain of responsibility om 2016 No. 65 s 36(2)

record keeper has the meaning given by section 317.
record location, of the driver of a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle, has the meaning given by section 290.
rest, in relation to a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle, means not work in relation to a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle.
rest time, for the driver of a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle, means any time that is not work time for the driver.
severe risk breach has the meaning given by section 222(3).
sign of fatigue means any sign that a person was, is or will be fatigued while driving a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle on a road (whether the sign manifests itself before, during or after the driver drove the vehicle).

Examples—

lack of alertness
inability to concentrate
reduced ability to recognise or respond to external stimuli
poor judgment or memory
making more mistakes than usual
drowsiness, or falling asleep, at work (including microsleeps)
finding it difficult to keep eyes open
needing more frequent naps than usual
not feeling refreshed after sleep
excessive head-nodding or yawning
blurred vision
mood changes, increased irritability or other changes to the person’s mental health
changes to the person’s health or fitness
solo driver means a driver who is not a party to a two-up driving arrangement.
standard hours has the meaning given by section 249.
stationary rest time means rest time a driver spends—
(a)out of a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle; or
(b)in an approved sleeper berth of a stationary fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle.
substantial risk breach has the meaning given by section 222(2).
supplementary record means a supplementary record made under section 305.
tamper, with an approved electronic recording system, has the meaning given by section 334.
two-up driving arrangement means an arrangement under which 2 persons share the driving of a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle that has an approved sleeper berth.
work, in relation to a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle, means—
(a)drive a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle; or
(b)instruct another person to drive, or supervise another person driving, a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle; or
(c)perform another task relating to the use of a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle, including, for example—
(i)load things onto, or unload things from, the heavy vehicle; and
(ii)inspect, service or repair the heavy vehicle; and
(iii)inspect or attend to a load on the heavy vehicle; and
(iv)if the heavy vehicle is a bus, attend to passengers on the bus; and
(v)clean or refuel the heavy vehicle; and
(vi)perform marketing tasks in relation to the use of the vehicle; and

Examples for the purposes of subparagraph (vi)—

arranging for the transport of goods or passengers by the heavy vehicle
canvassing for orders for the transport of goods or passengers by the heavy vehicle
(vii)help another person to perform, or supervise another person performing, a task mentioned in any of subparagraphs (i) to (vi); and
(viii)record information or complete a document, as required under this Law, a corresponding fatigue law or otherwise, in relation to the use of the vehicle; or
(d)occupy the driver’s seat of a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle while its engine is running.
work and rest change, for the driver of a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle, means—
(a)a change from work time to rest time; or
(b)a change from rest time to work time; or
(c)a change from being a solo driver to being a driver who is a party to a two-up driving arrangement; or
(d)a change from being a driver who is a party to a two-up driving arrangement to being a solo driver.
work and rest hours option has the meaning given by section 243.
work diary, for the driver of a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle—
(a)generally, means a written work diary or electronic work diary kept by the driver for the purposes of this Law; and
(b)for Subdivision 1 of Division 2 of Part 6.4, see section 292.
work record means—
(a)a written or electronic work diary of the driver of a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle; or
(b)a supplementary record; or
(c)a record required to be made or kept under (or by a condition under) Division 2, 3, 8 or 8A of Part 6.4; or
(d)a copy of a document, or an entry in a document, mentioned in paragraph (a), (b) or (c).
work time, for the driver of a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle, means any time the driver spends undertaking work in relation to the vehicle.
written work diary means a written work diary issued to the driver of a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle by the Regulator under section 340 or a corresponding fatigue law.

222Categories of breaches

(1)A contravention of a maximum work requirement or minimum rest requirement is a minor risk breach if it is declared under the national regulations to be a breach in the minor risk category.
(2)A contravention of a maximum work requirement or minimum rest requirement is a substantial risk breach if it is declared under the national regulations to be a breach in the substantial risk category.
(3)A contravention of a maximum work requirement or minimum rest requirement is a severe risk breach if it is declared under the national regulations to be a breach in the severe risk category.
(4)A contravention of a maximum work requirement or minimum rest requirement is a critical risk breach if it is declared under the national regulations to be a breach in the critical risk category.

Part 6.2 Duties relating to fatigue

Division 1 Preliminary

223What is fatigue

(1)Fatigue includes (but is not limited to)—
(a)feeling sleepy; and
(b)feeling physically or mentally tired, weary or drowsy; and
(c)feeling exhausted or lacking energy; and
(d)behaving in a way consistent with paragraph (a), (b) or (c).
(2)The national regulations may contain provisions supplementing, clarifying or providing examples for any of the provisions of sections 223 to 226.

224Matters court may consider in deciding whether person was fatigued

(1)When deciding whether the driver of a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle was fatigued, a court may consider the following—
(a)what is commonly understood as being fatigued;
(b)the causes of fatigue;
(c)the signs of fatigue;
(d)any relevant body of fatigue knowledge;
(e)any other matter prescribed by the national regulations.
(2)Subsection (1) does not limit the matters the court may consider when deciding whether a driver was impaired by fatigue.

225What is impaired by fatigue

A driver is impaired by fatigue if the driver’s ability to drive a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle safely is affected by fatigue.

226Matters court may consider in deciding whether person was impaired by fatigue

(1)When deciding whether the driver of a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle was impaired by fatigue, a court may consider any of the following—
(a)any relevant cause of fatigue or sign of fatigue that was evident, and the degree to which it may indicate that the driver was impaired by fatigue;
(b)any behaviour exhibited by the driver that may have resulted from the driver being impaired by fatigue;

Examples for the purposes of paragraph (b)—

the circumstances of any incident, crash or near miss
poor driving judgement
inattentive driving such as drifting into other lanes on a road or not changing gears smoothly
(c)the nature and extent of any physical or mental exertion by the driver;
(d)whether the driver was in breach of the driver’s work and rest hours option.
(2)Subsection (1) does not limit the matters the court may consider when deciding whether a driver was impaired by fatigue.
(3)A court may consider the driver to be impaired by fatigue even if the driver has complied with—
(a)the requirements of this Law, including, for example, the maximum work requirements and minimum rest requirements applying to the driver; or
(b)any other law.

227[Repealed]

s 227 om 2016 No. 65 s 37

Division 2 Duty to avoid fatigue

div hdg amd 2016 No. 65 s 38

228Duty of driver to avoid driving while fatigued

(1)A person must not drive a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle on a road while the person is impaired by fatigue.

Maximum penalty—$6000.

(2)If, in relation to conduct at a particular time in relation to which a driver has been charged with an offence under subsection (1), the driver has been convicted of a prescribed driver offence under another law in relation to—
(a)the same conduct; or
(b)the same kind of conduct occurring during the same journey;

the court must discharge the proceedings against the driver.

(3)If, in relation to conduct at a particular time in relation to which a driver has been charged with an offence under subsection (1), the driver has been convicted of the offence and is also charged with a prescribed driver offence under another law (the other offence) in relation to—
(a)the same conduct; or
(b)the same kind of conduct occurring during the same journey;

the court dealing with the other offence must discharge the proceedings against the driver for the other offence.

(4)In this section—
prescribed driver offence under another law means an offence under another law of any jurisdiction prescribed for this definition by the national regulations or a law of that jurisdiction.

229[Repealed]

s 229 om 2016 No. 65 s 39

Division 3 [Repealed]

div hdg om 2016 No. 65 s 40

230[Repealed]

s 230 om 2016 No. 65 s 40

231[Repealed]

s 231 om 2016 No. 65 s 40

232[Repealed]

s 232 om 2016 No. 65 s 40

Division 4 [Repealed]

div hdg om 2016 No. 65 s 40

233[Repealed]

s 233 amd 2015 No. 12 s 67 sch

om 2016 No. 65 s 40

234[Repealed]

s 234 om 2016 No. 65 s 40

Division 5 [Repealed]

div hdg om 2016 No. 65 s 40

235[Repealed]

s 235 om 2016 No. 65 s 40

236[Repealed]

s 236 om 2016 No. 65 s 40

237[Repealed]

s 237 om 2016 No. 65 s 40

Division 6 [Repealed]

div hdg om 2016 No. 65 s 40

238[Repealed]

s 238 om 2016 No. 65 s 40

239[Repealed]

s 239 om 2016 No. 65 s 40

Division 7 [Repealed]

div hdg om 2016 No. 65 s 40

240[Repealed]

s 240 om 2016 No. 65 s 40

241[Repealed]

s 241 om 2016 No. 65 s 40

Division 8 [Repealed]

div hdg om 2016 No. 65 s 40

242[Repealed]

s 242 om 2016 No. 65 s 40

Part 6.3 Requirements relating to work time and rest time

Division 1 Preliminary

243What is a driver’s work and rest hours option

(1)The work and rest hours option of the driver of a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle is the maximum work requirements and minimum rest requirements applying to the driver under this Law.
(2)The work and rest hours option is—
(a)the standard work and rest arrangements, which—
(i)apply to drivers of fatigue-regulated heavy vehicles operating other than under a BFM accreditation, AFM accreditation or work and rest hours exemption; and
(ii)are known as ‘standard hours’; or
(b)the BFM work and rest arrangements, which—
(i)apply to drivers of fatigue-regulated heavy vehicles operating under a BFM accreditation; and
(ii)are known as ‘BFM hours’; or
(c)the AFM work and rest arrangements, which—
(i)apply to drivers of fatigue-regulated heavy vehicles operating under an AFM accreditation; and
(ii)are known as ‘AFM hours’; or
(d)the maximum work times and minimum rest times stated in a work and rest hours exemption, which—
(i)apply to drivers of fatigue-regulated heavy vehicles operating under the exemption; and
(ii)are known as ‘exemption hours’.

244Counting time spent in participating jurisdictions

When counting work time or rest time spent by the driver of a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle for this Part, the work time or rest time spent by the driver in any participating jurisdiction must be counted.

245Counting time spent outside participating jurisdictions

(1)This section applies to the driver of a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle if the driver drives a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle into a participating jurisdiction from a non-participating jurisdiction.
(2)If, within the last 7 days, the driver has spent any work time in a participating jurisdiction, any time spent by the driver in the non-participating jurisdiction must be treated in the same way as it would have been treated if the time had been spent in a participating jurisdiction.
(3)If, within the last 7 days, the driver spent work time only in non-participating jurisdictions—
(a)any time spent by the driver in the non-participating jurisdiction before the start of the driver’s last major rest break before entering a participating jurisdiction must be disregarded; and
(b)any time spent by the driver in the non-participating jurisdiction after the start of the last major rest break mentioned in paragraph (a) must be—
(i)taken into account; and
(ii)treated in the same way as it would have been treated if the time had been spent in a participating jurisdiction.

246Counting periods of less than 15 minutes—written work diaries

(1)This section applies if a driver uses a written work diary.
(2)Work time must be counted in 15 minute periods.
(3)A period of work time of less than 15 minutes counts as 15 minutes work time.

Examples for the purposes of subsection (3)—

1A period of working for 14 minutes counts as 15 minutes work time.
2A period of working for 17 minutes counts as 30 minutes work time.
3A period of working for 53 minutes counts as 1 hour work time.
(4)Rest time must be counted in blocks of time of no less than 15 minutes.
(5)A period of rest time of less than 15 minutes must be disregarded.

Examples for the purposes of subsection (5)—

1A period of not working for only 14 minutes does not count as rest time, because 14 minutes is less than 15 minutes.
2A period of not working for 17 minutes counts as 15 minutes rest time, because 17 minutes is more than 15 minutes, but is less than 2 lots of 15 minutes (30 minutes).

s 246 amd 2015 No. 12 s 21

246ACounting periods of less than 15 minutes—electronic work diaries

(1)This section applies if a driver uses an electronic work diary.
(2)Work time and rest time must be counted in 1 minute periods.
(3)A period of work time or rest time of less than 1 minute must not be counted.
(4)A period of rest time of less than 15 minutes does not count towards a minimum rest time.

Examples for the purposes of subsection (4)—

1A period of not working for 10 minutes does not count towards a minimum rest time because 10 minutes is less than 15 minutes.
2A period of not working on 3 separate occasions for 14 minutes, 24 minutes and 22 minutes does not count as 60 minutes rest time because the period of 14 minutes, being less than 15 minutes, is disregarded.

Note—

This section relates to calculating whether a driver has complied with maximum work requirements and minimum rest requirements applying to the driver. It does not matter if the technology used by an electronic work diary counts a period less than 1 minute mentioned in subsections (2) and (3) in the course of arriving at calculations that comply with the subsections.

s 246A ins 2015 No. 12 s 22

247Time to be counted after rest time ends

When counting time in a period, the time must not be counted from within rest time, but instead must be counted forward from—
(a)if 1 or more major rest breaks are relevant to the period—the end of a relevant major rest break; or
(b)in any other case—the end of a relevant period of rest time.

Example—

An authorised officer intercepts the driver of a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle on a Friday and inspects the driver’s work diary. The driver operates under standard hours. The officer examines the work diary entries for the previous Monday. The entries show that the driver completed 7 continuous hours of stationary rest time at 6.30a.m. on that day, started work at that time, worked until 11a.m. that day, had 45 minutes of rest time, worked until 5.00p.m. that day, then had stationary rest time until 4.30a.m. on the following day, Tuesday, and then worked until 6.30a.m. on that day.

In order to determine the total number of hours worked by the driver in a 24 hour period starting on the Monday, then in accordance with section 247(a) the officer must commence counting from the end of the relevant major rest break, which in this case is from 6.30a.m. on the Monday until 6.30a.m. on the Tuesday. Adding up the driver’s work periods - 6.30a.m. to 11a.m., 11.45a.m. to 5.00p.m. and 4.30a.m. to 6.30a.m. - results in a total of 11¾ hours worked in the 24 hour period.

The officer might also decide to assess whether the driver has complied with his or her maximum work and minimum rest requirements for the same 24 hour period.

For instance, in any period of 5½ hours, a driver must not work for more than 5¼ hours and must have at least 15 minutes continuous rest when operating under standard hours. To assess whether the driver has complied with this requirement, then in accordance with section 247(b) the