❓ This WA parliamentary question addresses the conversion of vehicle licenses (A, B, C) to new national classes and the implications for farmers driving tractors with farm implements. The Minister clarifies the conversions, rules for towing implements, and denies an extension for license applications.
AnsweredQoN 1271Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
VEHICLE LICENSING
(1) Will the minister state what the automatic conversion will be for A, B and C-class licences? (2) Will the holders of A, B or C-class licences be able to drive a licensed articulated tractor that is towing a farm implement, such as an air seeder? (3) Given that the Department of Transport has yet to finalise the licensing arrangement, will the minister provide an extension for farmers to lodge an application for a new licence? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS
(1) Will the minister state what the automatic conversion will be for A, B and C-class licences? (2) Will the holders of A, B or C-class licences be able to drive a licensed articulated tractor that is towing a farm implement, such as an air seeder? (3) Given that the Department of Transport has yet to finalise the licensing arrangement, will the minister provide an extension for farmers to lodge an application for a new licence? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Class A has been converted to a new class C, which denotes a car; class B has been converted to a new class HR, which denotes heavy rigid; and class C has been converted to new class HC, which denotes heavy combination. (2) Yes. Depending on the tractor used to tow the implement, a single agricultural implement having a gross vehicle mass not exceeding nine tonnes can now be towed by the holder of a class C or HR licence. When the implement exceeds nine tonnes GVM, the tractor driver must hold a class HC licence. (3) The licensing arrangements for converting driver licence classes were finalised prior to implementing the new national classes and, therefore, an extension is not being considered. The 12-month transitional period established to allow licence holders to upgrade their converted licence class, while being able to continue to drive vehicles covered by their superseded classes, will expire on 6 May.
(2) Will the holders of A, B or C-class licences be able to drive a licensed articulated tractor that is towing a farm implement, such as an air seeder? (3) Given that the Department of Transport has yet to finalise the licensing arrangement, will the minister provide an extension for farmers to lodge an application for a new licence? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Class A has been converted to a new class C, which denotes a car; class B has been converted to a new class HR, which denotes heavy rigid; and class C has been converted to new class HC, which denotes heavy combination. (2) Yes. Depending on the tractor used to tow the implement, a single agricultural implement having a gross vehicle mass not exceeding nine tonnes can now be towed by the holder of a class C or HR licence. When the implement exceeds nine tonnes GVM, the tractor driver must hold a class HC licence. (3) The licensing arrangements for converting driver licence classes were finalised prior to implementing the new national classes and, therefore, an extension is not being considered. The 12-month transitional period established to allow licence holders to upgrade their converted licence class, while being able to continue to drive vehicles covered by their superseded classes, will expire on 6 May.
(3) Given that the Department of Transport has yet to finalise the licensing arrangement, will the minister provide an extension for farmers to lodge an application for a new licence? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Class A has been converted to a new class C, which denotes a car; class B has been converted to a new class HR, which denotes heavy rigid; and class C has been converted to new class HC, which denotes heavy combination. (2) Yes. Depending on the tractor used to tow the implement, a single agricultural implement having a gross vehicle mass not exceeding nine tonnes can now be towed by the holder of a class C or HR licence. When the implement exceeds nine tonnes GVM, the tractor driver must hold a class HC licence. (3) The licensing arrangements for converting driver licence classes were finalised prior to implementing the new national classes and, therefore, an extension is not being considered. The 12-month transitional period established to allow licence holders to upgrade their converted licence class, while being able to continue to drive vehicles covered by their superseded classes, will expire on 6 May.
Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Class A has been converted to a new class C, which denotes a car; class B has been converted to a new class HR, which denotes heavy rigid; and class C has been converted to new class HC, which denotes heavy combination. (2) Yes. Depending on the tractor used to tow the implement, a single agricultural implement having a gross vehicle mass not exceeding nine tonnes can now be towed by the holder of a class C or HR licence. When the implement exceeds nine tonnes GVM, the tractor driver must hold a class HC licence. (3) The licensing arrangements for converting driver licence classes were finalised prior to implementing the new national classes and, therefore, an extension is not being considered. The 12-month transitional period established to allow licence holders to upgrade their converted licence class, while being able to continue to drive vehicles covered by their superseded classes, will expire on 6 May.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Class A has been converted to a new class C, which denotes a car; class B has been converted to a new class HR, which denotes heavy rigid; and class C has been converted to new class HC, which denotes heavy combination. (2) Yes. Depending on the tractor used to tow the implement, a single agricultural implement having a gross vehicle mass not exceeding nine tonnes can now be towed by the holder of a class C or HR licence. When the implement exceeds nine tonnes GVM, the tractor driver must hold a class HC licence. (3) The licensing arrangements for converting driver licence classes were finalised prior to implementing the new national classes and, therefore, an extension is not being considered. The 12-month transitional period established to allow licence holders to upgrade their converted licence class, while being able to continue to drive vehicles covered by their superseded classes, will expire on 6 May.
(1) Class A has been converted to a new class C, which denotes a car; class B has been converted to a new class HR, which denotes heavy rigid; and class C has been converted to new class HC, which denotes heavy combination. (2) Yes. Depending on the tractor used to tow the implement, a single agricultural implement having a gross vehicle mass not exceeding nine tonnes can now be towed by the holder of a class C or HR licence. When the implement exceeds nine tonnes GVM, the tractor driver must hold a class HC licence. (3) The licensing arrangements for converting driver licence classes were finalised prior to implementing the new national classes and, therefore, an extension is not being considered. The 12-month transitional period established to allow licence holders to upgrade their converted licence class, while being able to continue to drive vehicles covered by their superseded classes, will expire on 6 May.
(2) Yes. Depending on the tractor used to tow the implement, a single agricultural implement having a gross vehicle mass not exceeding nine tonnes can now be towed by the holder of a class C or HR licence. When the implement exceeds nine tonnes GVM, the tractor driver must hold a class HC licence. (3) The licensing arrangements for converting driver licence classes were finalised prior to implementing the new national classes and, therefore, an extension is not being considered. The 12-month transitional period established to allow licence holders to upgrade their converted licence class, while being able to continue to drive vehicles covered by their superseded classes, will expire on 6 May.
(2) Will the holders of A, B or C-class licences be able to drive a licensed articulated tractor that is towing a farm implement, such as an air seeder? (3) Given that the Department of Transport has yet to finalise the licensing arrangement, will the minister provide an extension for farmers to lodge an application for a new licence? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Class A has been converted to a new class C, which denotes a car; class B has been converted to a new class HR, which denotes heavy rigid; and class C has been converted to new class HC, which denotes heavy combination. (2) Yes. Depending on the tractor used to tow the implement, a single agricultural implement having a gross vehicle mass not exceeding nine tonnes can now be towed by the holder of a class C or HR licence. When the implement exceeds nine tonnes GVM, the tractor driver must hold a class HC licence. (3) The licensing arrangements for converting driver licence classes were finalised prior to implementing the new national classes and, therefore, an extension is not being considered. The 12-month transitional period established to allow licence holders to upgrade their converted licence class, while being able to continue to drive vehicles covered by their superseded classes, will expire on 6 May.
(3) Given that the Department of Transport has yet to finalise the licensing arrangement, will the minister provide an extension for farmers to lodge an application for a new licence? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Class A has been converted to a new class C, which denotes a car; class B has been converted to a new class HR, which denotes heavy rigid; and class C has been converted to new class HC, which denotes heavy combination. (2) Yes. Depending on the tractor used to tow the implement, a single agricultural implement having a gross vehicle mass not exceeding nine tonnes can now be towed by the holder of a class C or HR licence. When the implement exceeds nine tonnes GVM, the tractor driver must hold a class HC licence. (3) The licensing arrangements for converting driver licence classes were finalised prior to implementing the new national classes and, therefore, an extension is not being considered. The 12-month transitional period established to allow licence holders to upgrade their converted licence class, while being able to continue to drive vehicles covered by their superseded classes, will expire on 6 May.
Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Class A has been converted to a new class C, which denotes a car; class B has been converted to a new class HR, which denotes heavy rigid; and class C has been converted to new class HC, which denotes heavy combination. (2) Yes. Depending on the tractor used to tow the implement, a single agricultural implement having a gross vehicle mass not exceeding nine tonnes can now be towed by the holder of a class C or HR licence. When the implement exceeds nine tonnes GVM, the tractor driver must hold a class HC licence. (3) The licensing arrangements for converting driver licence classes were finalised prior to implementing the new national classes and, therefore, an extension is not being considered. The 12-month transitional period established to allow licence holders to upgrade their converted licence class, while being able to continue to drive vehicles covered by their superseded classes, will expire on 6 May.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Class A has been converted to a new class C, which denotes a car; class B has been converted to a new class HR, which denotes heavy rigid; and class C has been converted to new class HC, which denotes heavy combination. (2) Yes. Depending on the tractor used to tow the implement, a single agricultural implement having a gross vehicle mass not exceeding nine tonnes can now be towed by the holder of a class C or HR licence. When the implement exceeds nine tonnes GVM, the tractor driver must hold a class HC licence. (3) The licensing arrangements for converting driver licence classes were finalised prior to implementing the new national classes and, therefore, an extension is not being considered. The 12-month transitional period established to allow licence holders to upgrade their converted licence class, while being able to continue to drive vehicles covered by their superseded classes, will expire on 6 May.
(1) Class A has been converted to a new class C, which denotes a car; class B has been converted to a new class HR, which denotes heavy rigid; and class C has been converted to new class HC, which denotes heavy combination. (2) Yes. Depending on the tractor used to tow the implement, a single agricultural implement having a gross vehicle mass not exceeding nine tonnes can now be towed by the holder of a class C or HR licence. When the implement exceeds nine tonnes GVM, the tractor driver must hold a class HC licence. (3) The licensing arrangements for converting driver licence classes were finalised prior to implementing the new national classes and, therefore, an extension is not being considered. The 12-month transitional period established to allow licence holders to upgrade their converted licence class, while being able to continue to drive vehicles covered by their superseded classes, will expire on 6 May.
(2) Yes. Depending on the tractor used to tow the implement, a single agricultural implement having a gross vehicle mass not exceeding nine tonnes can now be towed by the holder of a class C or HR licence. When the implement exceeds nine tonnes GVM, the tractor driver must hold a class HC licence. (3) The licensing arrangements for converting driver licence classes were finalised prior to implementing the new national classes and, therefore, an extension is not being considered. The 12-month transitional period established to allow licence holders to upgrade their converted licence class, while being able to continue to drive vehicles covered by their superseded classes, will expire on 6 May.
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