COAG agrees to reduced paperwork

According to the ATA the Council of Australian Governments (CoAG) agreed in its recent meeting to a series of reforms that will help reduce the licensing and paperwork tangles facing some trucking businesses.

CoAG consists of the Prime Minister, the state premiers, the territory chief ministers, and the president of the Australian Local Government Association.

CoAG agreed to develop a national trade licensing system, which will aim to replace the inconsistent, state-based licensing arrangements that apply to many occupations. CoAG will sign off on the details of the new system in December 2008, but it will initially cover:

• air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics
• building occupations
• electrical occupations
• passenger vehicle and dangerous goods driver licensing
• maritime occupations
• plumbing and
• property agents.

The proposal for a national truck driver licensing system is being considered separately by Australia’s transport ministers.

CoAG also agreed to set up a national system for registering business names, which are currently handled at state level. At the moment, an individual or corporation that wants to trade under a different name must register in every state or territory where they do business.

Under the national system, people will be able to apply for their business name and Australian Business Number in a single step.

ATA Chairman Trevor Martyn said, “The reforms will deliver useful reductions in paperwork, but they are only small gains compared to the compliance burden we will face from September with the introduction of the new fatigue management laws.”

“What we really need is a national regulation and registration system for heavy vehicles and
national licensing system for truck drivers,” he said.