THE transport industry has lashed out at the government in the lead up to the passing of a bill which peak bodies said is just a revenue raising scheme or another tax that may ruin the industry.
The Livestock and Rural Transport Association of WA (LRTA), met with both the Liberal Party and the National Party last week to discuss the Chain of Responsibility Bill which the Government hopes to join with the 2007 Traffic Act Bill, as soon as within the next few weeks.
However, the new bill, which would have a no weight tolerance allowance on trucks, would greatly affect the transport industry.
"It's a blatant attack on the transport industry, operators, truck drivers and customers - they are treating us like criminals," Matthews Transport manager Neville Matthews said.
"It's an attack on our industry - it's just a revenue raising scheme."
The controversial bill is causing a lot of opposition because it involves a stop and search regulation, where transport inspectors have the power to search vehicles and houses without a warrant.
"It's an invasion of privacy - we want the Government to consult with the industry because it needs to be changed," Mr Matthews said.
Mr Matthews said weight tolerances are necessary because the bill doesn't accommodate anomalies which are unavoidable.
"City based organisations, like long-haul carriers, are able to access weighbridges and deliver their goods without any problems," he said.
"Farm commodities and trucks don't have that privilege, when there are not weighbridges on every corner.
"If a truck that was carrying sheep got caught in the rain, the wool may absorb the water, therefore taking the weight up.
"If they leave tolerances at 10 per cent we can manage, but if they take it to zero per cent, we won't survive.
"Once they take away the tolerances, we will lose productivity and people will have to pay more because it will cost farmers more money to get the product into the port or CBH."
Mr Matthews said the bill was the most complicated system that ever existed.
"If the truck is overloaded, then the farmer, the driver, the owner and the receiver will all have to pay a price, even if they are not directly involved," he said.
"Our drivers are carrying a briefcase loaded with permits, fatigue management and diary entries and we believe that they are carrying more paper work than a jumbo pilot."
Mr Matthews said the new bill could drive people out of the country because it may become too expensive to live there.
"It will have a high impact on commodities coming and going from farms, there will be a big impact on transport companies and there will be a big impact on drivers who have to abide by the regulations," he said.
Mr Matthews is angry because he said the government always makes promises but no actions are ever taken.
"The Liberal Party and the National Party have a sympathetic ear, that is all," he said.
"The Government said they would remove some of the red tape involved, but they haven't.
"There are too many laws, and it's just the Government's way or the highway."
He said there will be serious consequences and other action will be taken if the Government refuses to negotiate with them.
"We won't accept the bill - if the Government won't listen to us, they will lose the respect of the rural people.
"We have just been abandoned and we have had enough."
Member for Agriculture Region the Hon. Jim Chown MLC said amendments to the proposed Compliance and Enforcement legislation needed to be made in order to reflect the unique transport requirements of WA.
"In WA over 55 million tonnes of freight is moved on road annually," Mr Chown said.
"This national legislation needs to be tailored to suit our own state transportation requirements, as has been done in NSW, South Australia, Victoria, and Queensland."
Mr Chown said the amendments need to be practical and user friendly for the heavy haulage industry of WA.
"We need guidelines that will help the industry operate efficiently and safely," he said.
"One way to do this is to amend the minor breach requirements and to ensure that the chain of responsibility is evenly shared throughout the supply chain.
Mr Chown said one breach arrangement that needed reviewing was the axle loading specifications.
"Axle loading varies throughout the vehicle combination," he said.
"The load on one axle may be lighter; however the other may be heavier and therefore in breach.
"Amendments need to be made to ensure there is an axle weight average across the entire truck."
Mr Chown said WA Transport Minister Simon O'Brien has called for industry submissions which have gone forward and will be reviewed over the next few weeks.
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