BIC Government Submissions

The purpose of this document is to provide a response to the National Electric Vehicle Strategy Consultation paper released in September 2022.  The BIC supports the intent of the National Electric Vehicle Strategy Consultation paper which covers a range of goals and although the bus and coach industry are broadly supportive of these goals, highlighting two main concerns with the strategy.  The bus and coach industry in Australia is uniquely placed to be an exemplar of how to transition heavy vehicles to zero emissions operation. The public transport tasks (including school bus services), which the industry undertakes daily are so configured that the

This submission responds to the NTC consultation paper, Heavy Vehicle Charges Determination: Consultation Regulation Impact Statement, June 2021 (NTC 2021).  The NTC paper develops three alternative heavy vehicle charging options, in addition to the status quo, and is seeking feedback on those alternatives and on their derivation. Taking feedback on the paper into account, the NTC intends to develop a heavy vehicle charges determination that will form the basis for setting heavy vehicle road use charges to apply for 2022-23. It is expected that the NTC will propose a few options and leave it to Ministers to choose from among those

The Bus Australia Network (with significant input from BusVIC and Professor John Stanley), submitted its response to the NTC’s public consultation on its heavy vehicle charging determination for 2022-2023. The cost allocation methodology proposed by the NTC included significant changes from the previous approaches of the NTC. The BAN identified 2 particular high impact changes in the charging principles put forward: changes in the assessment of equivalent standard axle (ESA) impacts of different vehicle classes on HV road costs and changes in the way regulatory costs are allocated (such as funding the NHVR). The NTC points out that current heavy

The National Transport Commission conducted a review of their draft guideline on Assessing Fitness to Drive for Commercial and Private Vehicle Drivers (AFD). Primarily, the publication provides guidelines for medical and health professionals and licensing/transport authorities. The guidelines does not provide any standards for Employers who are predominantly reliant on the Employee to self-report. The Employer is also reliant on the health professional and the licensing authority to be accurate and timely in the provision of assessments or accreditation. The BIC submitted a response to the NTC on 11 June 2021 and provides: responses to questions raised in the Interim

BIC provided responses to 100-plus questions in the following reform areas of the Transport Standards: Staff Training and Communication Mobility Aid Safety Priority Seating Allocated Spaces in Transit Digital Information Screens Website Accessibility Communication during Service Disruption Assistance Animal Toileting Facilities Emergency Egress Fit for Purpose Accessways Wayfinding Tactile Ground Surface Indicators Provision of information in multiple forms. The BIC also provided an over-arching executive statement. The Australian bus and coach sectors are one of the most highly regulated in the heavy vehicle industry. Generally, this regulation occurs via state-based transport legislation and operational contracts. As all route, and the

The BIC provided a response to the Consultation Draft of the Heavy Vehicle Safety Strategy 2021-25 (Strategy). The Strategy will be supported by an Action Plan, produced annually, which will outline the activities, responsibilities, and timeframes for delivery that the NHVR will undertake over the five-year life of the Strategy. The Strategy is aligned to the draft National Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030 (Office of Road Safety) for which the BIC also provided a submission (download here). The 10 year strategy from the Office of Road Safety sets out Australia’s road safety objectives, key priorities for action, and road trauma reduction

This submission provides a response to the Office of Road Safety and their National Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030. The BIC addresses regional and remote access with better transport options, heavy vehicle safety and regulation, and outlines a 10-point action plan for a national bus safety strategy. The main issues raised by the BIC were: Better transport options and assistance in regional areas. Sustainable community transport Safety regulations – Heavy Vehicle National Law Common approach to Safety standards Current safety technology in buses and coaches Speed limit controls Industry Advisories and Codes. Download the Submission Download