Wendy Georgetti-Remkes Darwin N.T.

Wendy Georgetti-Remkes

N.T.Delegate Darwin

Mobile 0488-185-852

LETTER TO THE EDITOR  NRFA Delegate Letter to the Editor

Dear Sir,

Against everything that the N.T. once stood for and ernest concerns about the threatened adoption of the Eastern States draconian regimes applying to trucks - and their unfortunate drivers, it appears that once again, bowing to the "Bully boys" of the south and east of this country, the NT has become as unpleasant as they are.

Using the same old ploy of "Road Safety" (when It should simply be called "Road Revenue” we are now subjected to the same blanket "'stop 'em all and find something and FINE 'em^’ direction.

Three Ways was the location, employing about 9 or so cars, 2 RTA vehicles and a plethora of intense policemen, intent on fulfilling their orders from above, including drug and alcohol tests (we have alt just driven 1000 ks or so from the borders, but no, in the middle of nowhere, we are to be pulled up and tested.)

I was subjected to the usual search and check, conducted by an officious young man, and, as I suspected, on questioning his origins, Yes he was from NSW, unpleasant is being kind.

This delays us at least half an hour or more.

Conducted in blazing heat, no shade and still 1000 ks to go - anywhere.

My question, WHY weigh trucks out In the middle of nowhere where conditions are less than friendly and when we all have to pass through weigh stations in Katherine and Alice Springs anyway? Licence’s are also requested at these weigh stations if necessary.

Having taken over from a colleague who had just been fined $300 for 3 "'infringements"" on his ridiculous log book'" $900 for three tiny little lines that didn't extend Just far enough (Mt. lsa police, yet again - they are notorious) suddenly, we get the feeling, that yet again, truckies of the N.T. are being railroaded by this Government to accept, yet again, Eastern States jurisdictions.,

I for one, gave up a well paid job and flatly refuse to ever drive in the Eastern states again.

It will be a sad day for the Territory if this persecution arrives here. Fight back Fellas!! Before It is too late. The over used words “fatigue” & "safety" and now, the latest excuse for more harassment, "'depression" where a policeman down there is given the right to decide If a truckie Is "depressed" and have him taken off the road. All for money. No more, no less. Since when did policeman have the qualifications to judge depression and, for that matter, fatigue?

They do, however, specialise in over the top Enforcement"

Now it seems it has come here, the relationship the NT police had with their fellow (truckie) Territorians seems to have been discarded, sad day.

WHO ordered this latest operation and why. HOW much did it cost and for what gain? Where do they put these men up (taking rooms from ordinary travellers, there is precious little out there for the ordinary motorists/tourists etc. as It Is)

What chance do we have against this Government, intent on turning a hostile environment into a hostile police environment? Wake up fellas and ACT, before It Is too late.

 

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Letters from Wendy to NSW RTA

Dear Sirs,

 Apparently your Office/officials are denying 14hr. accreditation to trucking companies unless they insist their drivers fill out their diaries all the way to Darwin and back.

I am unaware of any agreement existing between QLD, NSW & SA that permits you to extend your legislation beyond the Northen Territory borders.

 Search up here for an Act, the number of this Act, date and name etc. has revealed to us that there is no agreement.

 If you do have an Agreement, it would be most convenient for we in the Territory to know about it.  Perhaps you would be so kind to furnish this Association with the above details.

 Otherwise, would you please explain how on earth you can justify extending your legislation across our borders without such an Agreement.

This would surely render your demands not only outrageous, but null & void.

 Why is it so important to you to know what drivers are doing outside your State borders.  Surely it is of no business to you - and more particularly if the truck and its driver(s) are both registered and licensed in the Northern Territory.  What you demand of NSW trucks and drivers is your business WITHIN your borders, but outside them - zero, unless you have agreements with other States.  WA and NT so far have none.

 Also please consider the ludicrous situation where WA drivers, who have a most sensible system in place, and fill out their own style of log books, then, crossing the WA border into SA and on into NSW or wherever, switch (as a courtesty to your laws) to the diaries.  They are then promptly "pinged" for carrying two books in their trucks.

Once again, complete disregard for another State's jurisdiction.

 I would appreciate your comments and of course, as requested, if an Act does exist, its name, date and so on.

 Many thanks,

Wendy D Georgetti-Remkes.

NT Delegate - NRFA

 

March 27, 2009

This was the reply

Dear Ms Georgetti-Remkes.

Thank you for your email.  The new heavy vehicle driver fatigue law was implemented in NSW, QLD, SA and VIC on 29 September 2008.  NT are in the process of implementing the fatigue law.

 Under the new law there are three fatigue management schemes:

 Standard Hours

Basic Fatigue Management (BFM)

Advanced Fatigue Management (AFM).

 Standard hours is the default option and operators must apply for accreditation to use the BFM or AFM options.  Accreditation will be granted to operators who can demonstrate compliance with the NHVAS business rules.

 When drivers enter a participating jurisdiction they must be compliant with the law in that state so for example drivers must be compliant with the work and rest hours regimes of NSW and must also be compliant with work diary requirements when they enter NSW. 

 do outside of a participating jurisdiction is relevant when they enter that state.  For example, the fatigue law provides that Standard hours drivers must comply with certain work and rest hours.   In terms of fatigue, the total number of hours worked is relevant even when a driver started work on that day outside of a participating jurisdiction.

 Under the fatigue law, it is an offence to keep two work diaries simultaneously.  The WA "logbook" is not considered to be a work diary and so would not breach this provision.  If you are aware of instances where penalties have been issued for this offence, please provide us with the specific details and we can investigate the matter for you.

Regards

 Liz

 Liz Carne |  Senior Project Officer  |  Compliance and Freight Strategy

 And Wendy wrote Back

 Attn Liz Carne:

 

Dear Liz,

Thankyou for your response.

Unfortunately,  you seem to have entirely missed the point.

This is about Constitutional Law.

Qld.NSW.SA &Vic have agreed, amongst themselves to adopt this ridiculous and draconian system.  I am fully aware of when, and that there have also been 4 amendment packages already.

NT has absolutely no agreement and neither do we have logbooks or police and RTA running up and down our Highways (3)  rather like demented parrots -all brightly lit, flashing lights and a lot of squawking - chasing revenue. So why should ANY driver fill in books in the NT?  Makes for total farce.

If this was about safety, then the roads would not be in the murderous state they are currently in.  They kill people.

 WA has emphatically decided they do not want and will not adopt, your system.  Their system is based on common sense, and fines are rarely involved.

 The NT is NOT currently implementing your "laws"   In fact, the more feedback they are receiving, the less they like the whole idea.  A reminder, with respect, we have the lowest fatality/accident rate per capita, we have triple road trains pretty much ALL the time, and they go through to Darwin, not having to drop trailers at all.  Granted your population and appalling roads down there warrant dropping trailers before reaching the city, but in Bourke? 800 ks away.  Think of the ridiculous cost involved, extra prime movers running up and down picking up these trailers and running them in singles back to the city.  Likewise, Dubbo.  The furthest point in WA is 300 odd ks before the shedding of 3rd trailers begins.  I suggest you look at your system. (I admit, we are massive and empty states - but surely Bourke is just a wee bit over the top?)

 With respect, you refer to rules, requirements and regulations.  These do not necessarily mean "law"

 Once again, I must ask, under what jurisdiction do you assume you people have the right to force your "requirements" re these ludicrous diaries, onto drivers particularly NT licenced and for that matter, any other licenced drivers , into our Northern Territory.

To most of us in this industry when the RTA/Policemen say "We need to know you have had correct rest etc. etc. before entering any of the southern/eastern states"  Why?  the answer as we are all aware, so that they can "check"  and then fine if not in order.

No wonder you have drivers leaving in droves, Companies tearing their hair out, the money and extra expense involved will bring this industry to its knees.

Fatigue?  There is no known test for fatigue. You cannot dictate to a man when he must rest.  All people are different, and they change their rest requirements daily.  Fatigue experts?  There is no such thing!  (This has come from highly placed Medical men) 

One drily commented "Fatigue?  I don't know if anyone is fatigued, perhaps if he/she falls asleep during my consultation, I may assume he/she is tired"

 Taking out the major driving force behind all this excessive regulation - Revenue - why, then, have bureacrats taken it upon themselves to run the Heavy Transport Industry - particularly when 99% of said bureacracy have never ever seen a full road train 53+ metres long, let alone been inside one,

in wiser days, Aeroplanes were run by men who knew aeroplanes and therefore had brilliant expertise - likewise, the trucking industry should be run and advised by, men who run trucking companies, drivers who have the practical knowledge and skill to deliver sensible comment and solution suggestions to the day to day problems, always part of any transport industry.

 Once again, I ask you supply me with the Act no. date and name that you think exists to warrant your attempted forcing of your regulations/requirements into and throughout the Northern Territory.

If I am proved wrong, then I stand corrected.  I doubt it, this is Constitutional Law I am talking about.  I have been very well advised.

 Regards.

Wendy Georgetti.

NT delegate for the NRFA