❓ A WA MP questioned the Minister for Mines and Petroleum about actions taken to prevent a similar incident to the Mona Vale truck crash, focusing on Cootes Transport's operations in WA. The Minister responded with details of inspections, audits, and regulatory actions.
AnsweredQoN 1937Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Noting the state government inquiry in New South Wales of trucks owned by the Cootes trucking company resulting in approximately 244 defect notices, 85 of them severe, I ask: (a) what actions have you, as Minister, taken to ensure Western Australia does not experience a scenario like the tragic Mona Vale incident; (b) what actions has been undertaken by the Department of Mines and Petroleum to ensure Western Australia does not experience a scenario like the tragic Mona Vale incident; (c) have any caveats, cautions, controls, restrictions or the like been placed on Cootes in respect of their authorities to carry and handle dangerous goods in Western Australia; and (d) following the Mona Vale incident, did the Western Australian Government intervene and audit Cootes as in New South Wales, and if not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
6 May 2014
Responded by
Minister for Mines and Petroleum
Response time
56 days
The Department of Mines and Petroleum advises:
(a)
Noting that the concerns raised in NSW primarily relate to heavy vehicle roadworthiness generally rather than just dangerous goods compliance matters, I support the Department of Mines and Petroleum's (DMP) action in writing to the National Transport Commission supporting the implementation of rollover stability controls on tanker vehicles at a national level as part of the National Heavy Vehicle Braking Strategy and through proposed changes to the Australian Design Rules.
(b)
DMP has been involved in 13 road-blocks in 2013/14 in partnership with Main Roads WA, the WA Police and the Department of Transport, including three that specifically targeted tanker vehicles in the aftermath of the Mona Vale incident.
In 2013/14, 308 vehicle combinations have been inspected including 89 fuel tanker combinations.
During the three targeted road-blocks 59 tanker combinations were stopped, 50 of which were tanker combinations.
DMP conducted a dangerous goods compliance audit of Cootes Transport on 16 February 2012 and no major deficiencies were identified.
(c)
None, other than the standard regulatory requirements and duties.
The dangerous goods regime involves licensing of individual tanker vehicles and drivers but not companies.
DMP has no evidence to suggest that tanker vehicles operated by Cootes' Transport are less compliant with dangerous goods requirements than those operated by other companies, noting that this does not address roadworthiness matters.
(d)
See answers to (b) and (c).
This question should be also directed to the Minister for Transport.
(a)
Noting that the concerns raised in NSW primarily relate to heavy vehicle roadworthiness generally rather than just dangerous goods compliance matters, I support the Department of Mines and Petroleum's (DMP) action in writing to the National Transport Commission supporting the implementation of rollover stability controls on tanker vehicles at a national level as part of the National Heavy Vehicle Braking Strategy and through proposed changes to the Australian Design Rules.
(b)
DMP has been involved in 13 road-blocks in 2013/14 in partnership with Main Roads WA, the WA Police and the Department of Transport, including three that specifically targeted tanker vehicles in the aftermath of the Mona Vale incident.
In 2013/14, 308 vehicle combinations have been inspected including 89 fuel tanker combinations.
During the three targeted road-blocks 59 tanker combinations were stopped, 50 of which were tanker combinations.
DMP conducted a dangerous goods compliance audit of Cootes Transport on 16 February 2012 and no major deficiencies were identified.
(c)
None, other than the standard regulatory requirements and duties.
The dangerous goods regime involves licensing of individual tanker vehicles and drivers but not companies.
DMP has no evidence to suggest that tanker vehicles operated by Cootes' Transport are less compliant with dangerous goods requirements than those operated by other companies, noting that this does not address roadworthiness matters.
(d)
See answers to (b) and (c).
This question should be also directed to the Minister for Transport.
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