In this submission, the BIC calls again for a reform that recognises the task of the bus cannot be categorised with other heavy vehicle classes carrying freight.
The bus and coach industry is arguably the most heavily regulated sector in the heavy vehicle industry. Generally, this regulation occurs via state-based transport legislation rather than Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL).
The HVNL needs to recognise the extensive regulation that already applies to bus and coach operators in different states around Australia. It is important that the new HVNL be broad enough to recognise such legislation, or it runs the risk of imposing different but comparable regulations on an already heavily regulated sector.
The main issues with regard to National Regulator Reform are that:
- buses, bus drivers and operators are already heavily regulated by the states and we strongly advocate for no second tiers of nationally based regulation.
- with regards road access, the issue of routes approved by individual permit is not being added to the Approved Route lists so all buses of the same type can use the “permitted” route.
- PBS is not generally found to be workable for buses/coaches.
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