A WA parliamentary question addresses concerns from the Livestock Transporters Association regarding the flexibility and potential impact on livestock welfare of new fatigue management regulations. The government defends the regulations, citing industry consultation and driver safety.

AnsweredQoN 844Legislative Council
Asked
9 April 2003
Portfolio
Planning and Infrastructure

QuestionView source ↗

The Livestock Transporters Association is concerned over the lack of flexibility in the new fatigue management regulations. (1) What steps has the Government taken to ensure that the new regulations will support the needs of livestock transporters, which are distinct and separate from those of general transporters? (2) Given that livestock must be delivered and unloaded quickly, when will the Government draft a set of regulations specifically tailored for livestock transporters? (3) How does the Government justify the threat to livestock welfare under the proposed new regulations considering that livestock travelling time will be extended due to mandatory travel breaks? Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The regulations were developed in conjunction with the road transport industry and provide a level of flexibility to cater for all types of freight tasks. The regulations focus on the minimum levels of rest for drivers to ensure their safety and the safety of other road users. It should be appreciated that the Western Australian system has significantly greater flexibility than the systems that have applied in other States for many years. (2) It is not proposed to develop a separate set of regulations for livestock transport. Livestock drivers are as prone to fatigue as other commercial drivers. (3) Although the safety of truck drivers is paramount, the feasibility inherent in the regulations is considered to be practical so as to not adversely affect the welfare of livestock.
(1) What steps has the Government taken to ensure that the new regulations will support the needs of livestock transporters, which are distinct and separate from those of general transporters? (2) Given that livestock must be delivered and unloaded quickly, when will the Government draft a set of regulations specifically tailored for livestock transporters? (3) How does the Government justify the threat to livestock welfare under the proposed new regulations considering that livestock travelling time will be extended due to mandatory travel breaks? Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The regulations were developed in conjunction with the road transport industry and provide a level of flexibility to cater for all types of freight tasks. The regulations focus on the minimum levels of rest for drivers to ensure their safety and the safety of other road users. It should be appreciated that the Western Australian system has significantly greater flexibility than the systems that have applied in other States for many years. (2) It is not proposed to develop a separate set of regulations for livestock transport. Livestock drivers are as prone to fatigue as other commercial drivers. (3) Although the safety of truck drivers is paramount, the feasibility inherent in the regulations is considered to be practical so as to not adversely affect the welfare of livestock.
(2) Given that livestock must be delivered and unloaded quickly, when will the Government draft a set of regulations specifically tailored for livestock transporters? (3) How does the Government justify the threat to livestock welfare under the proposed new regulations considering that livestock travelling time will be extended due to mandatory travel breaks? Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The regulations were developed in conjunction with the road transport industry and provide a level of flexibility to cater for all types of freight tasks. The regulations focus on the minimum levels of rest for drivers to ensure their safety and the safety of other road users. It should be appreciated that the Western Australian system has significantly greater flexibility than the systems that have applied in other States for many years. (2) It is not proposed to develop a separate set of regulations for livestock transport. Livestock drivers are as prone to fatigue as other commercial drivers. (3) Although the safety of truck drivers is paramount, the feasibility inherent in the regulations is considered to be practical so as to not adversely affect the welfare of livestock.
(3) How does the Government justify the threat to livestock welfare under the proposed new regulations considering that livestock travelling time will be extended due to mandatory travel breaks? Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The regulations were developed in conjunction with the road transport industry and provide a level of flexibility to cater for all types of freight tasks. The regulations focus on the minimum levels of rest for drivers to ensure their safety and the safety of other road users. It should be appreciated that the Western Australian system has significantly greater flexibility than the systems that have applied in other States for many years. (2) It is not proposed to develop a separate set of regulations for livestock transport. Livestock drivers are as prone to fatigue as other commercial drivers. (3) Although the safety of truck drivers is paramount, the feasibility inherent in the regulations is considered to be practical so as to not adversely affect the welfare of livestock.
Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The regulations were developed in conjunction with the road transport industry and provide a level of flexibility to cater for all types of freight tasks. The regulations focus on the minimum levels of rest for drivers to ensure their safety and the safety of other road users. It should be appreciated that the Western Australian system has significantly greater flexibility than the systems that have applied in other States for many years. (2) It is not proposed to develop a separate set of regulations for livestock transport. Livestock drivers are as prone to fatigue as other commercial drivers. (3) Although the safety of truck drivers is paramount, the feasibility inherent in the regulations is considered to be practical so as to not adversely affect the welfare of livestock.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The regulations were developed in conjunction with the road transport industry and provide a level of flexibility to cater for all types of freight tasks. The regulations focus on the minimum levels of rest for drivers to ensure their safety and the safety of other road users. It should be appreciated that the Western Australian system has significantly greater flexibility than the systems that have applied in other States for many years. (2) It is not proposed to develop a separate set of regulations for livestock transport. Livestock drivers are as prone to fatigue as other commercial drivers. (3) Although the safety of truck drivers is paramount, the feasibility inherent in the regulations is considered to be practical so as to not adversely affect the welfare of livestock.
(1) The regulations were developed in conjunction with the road transport industry and provide a level of flexibility to cater for all types of freight tasks. The regulations focus on the minimum levels of rest for drivers to ensure their safety and the safety of other road users. It should be appreciated that the Western Australian system has significantly greater flexibility than the systems that have applied in other States for many years. (2) It is not proposed to develop a separate set of regulations for livestock transport. Livestock drivers are as prone to fatigue as other commercial drivers. (3) Although the safety of truck drivers is paramount, the feasibility inherent in the regulations is considered to be practical so as to not adversely affect the welfare of livestock.
(2) It is not proposed to develop a separate set of regulations for livestock transport. Livestock drivers are as prone to fatigue as other commercial drivers. (3) Although the safety of truck drivers is paramount, the feasibility inherent in the regulations is considered to be practical so as to not adversely affect the welfare of livestock.
(3) Although the safety of truck drivers is paramount, the feasibility inherent in the regulations is considered to be practical so as to not adversely affect the welfare of livestock.

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