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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2024-11-28 Daily Xml
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Heavy Vehicle Licensing System

Mr ODENWALDER (Elizabeth) (15:09): My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Can the minister inform the house of changes to South Australia's heavy vehicle licensing system?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Energy and Mining) (15:09): Everyone has the right to go to work and return home safely. We are, as a government and I think as a parliament, committed to building a safer, stronger road transport industry that prioritises the lives of everyone on our roads. In light of this, earlier today I held a press conference with Ms Delphine Mugridge and Mr Steve Shearer, who is the executive officer of SARTA (South Australian Road Transport Association), to announce that the government of South Australia will be making two changes to improve heavy vehicle driver competency. One change is the establishment of a multi-combination licence program. The other is requiring heavy vehicle drivers from overseas to hold a HR or HC licence for 12 months or successfully complete the newly established MC licence program before progressing to an MC licence.

Drivers will be required to complete competency-based training through an approved RTO (registered training organisation). Following this training, a driver will then need to complete 50 hours of logged training with a qualified supervising driver if they hold a HC licence, or 60 hours if they hold a HR licence. Finally, a practical driving assessment in an MC vehicle with an authorised examiner will be required to complete this program. The program will provide drivers a clear and efficient pathway for achieving the required qualifications without compromising on road safety or driver training requirements.

In this state, a person who holds an overseas driver's licence and has the equivalent heavy vehicle driving experience can progress to an MC licence without having held an Australian qualification of HR or HC licence for at least 12 months.

As of early next year, we would no longer recognise overseas heavy vehicle driving experience for a person wanting to have an MC licence. Instead, overseas drivers will need to progress through a new MC licence program if they are employed by the eligible host business. Otherwise, a driver will be required to hold an Australian HR or HC licence for 12 months before being progressed.

By requiring these drivers who hold overseas licences to drive lower-level trucks for at least 12 months to gain local experience, we believe there will be a positive net impact on road safety, because these drivers will be more confident and more familiar with the roads and vehicles they are driving. Both measures mark a significant step forward in fostering a culture of safety, accountability and thorough training in South Australia for the heavy vehicle sector.

These changes were prompted by the advocacy of Delphine Mugridge after the death of her husband in April this year. Nev was one of three people killed in a crash between two trucks on the Eyre Highway at Yalata. Her petition, which I tabled earlier, called for stricter licensing requirements for heavy vehicle drivers, including for them to require more experience, and has the backing of more than 19,000 Australians who have signed her online petition. I am confident these changes will lead to safer roads.

What Delphine has made clear is that Australia has unique multicombination vehicles. We are unique in the heavy vehicle industry globally. Just because you have your heavy vehicle licence in Asia, Europe or North America, it does not mean you are competent to drive on Australian roads, and I urge other Australian states to follow our government's lead.

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