The load restraint provisions in the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) conflict with the Australian Dangerous Goods Code (ADGC) and must be fixed, the ATA’s submission in response to an NTC discussion paper [PDF, 236 KB] says.

The discussion paper considers three options for clarifying the application of the HVNL duties and load restraint provisions to minor, incidental or unavoidable effluent or other spills.

The ATA submission makes three recommendations to ensure that drivers and operators are not exposed to prosecution under the HVNL for operating equipment that complies with the ADGC, state dangerous goods legislation and the applicable Australian standards.

In addition to this submission, the ATA has made submissions to a previous NTC review and a parliamentary inquiry about amending the chain of responsibility duties to address livestock effluent spills specifically.