National Transport Commission (Model Amendments Regulations 2008 (Twin Steer Mass and Loading Limits)) Regulations 20091

Select Legislative Instrument 2009 No. 293

I, QUENTIN BRYCE, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, make the following Regulations under the National Transport Commission Act 2003.

Dated 29 October 2009

QUENTIN BRYCE

Governor‑General

By Her Excellency’s Command

ANTHONY ALBANESE

Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government

1 Name of Regulations

  These Regulations are the National Transport Commission (Model Amendments Regulations 2008 (Twin Steer Mass and Loading Limits)) Regulations 2009.

2 Commencement

  These Regulations commence on the day after they are registered.

3 Model legislation — Model Amendments Regulations 2008 (Twin Steer Mass and Loading Limits)

  Under section 7 of the National Transport Commission Act 2003, Schedule 1 sets out amendments, in the form of a Bill, to model legislation about heavy vehicles.

Schedule 1 Model Amendments Regulations 2008 (Twin Steer Mass and Loading Limits)

(regulation 3)

Contents

 Page

PART 1 — GENERAL MATTERS 4

1. Name 

2.  Purpose

3.  Approval

PART 2 — AMENDMENTS TO THE ROAD TRANSPORT REFORM (MASS AND LOADING) REGULATIONS

4.  Regulations being amended by this Part

5.  Mass limits relating to axle spacing 

PART 3 — AMENDMENTS TO THE HIGHER MASS LIMITS – LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE

6.  Provisions being amended by this Part 

7.  Application

8.  Interpretation

Model Amendment Regulations 2008 (Twin Steer Mass and Loading Limits)

The following provisions are intended to provide the basis for nationally consistent transport laws on the topics with which they deal. They do not, of themselves, have any legal effect.

Part 1 — General Matters

1. Name

These are the Model Amendments Regulations 2008 (Twin Steer Mass and Loading Limits).

2. Purpose

The main purpose of these Regulations is to enable certain heavy vehicles fitted with a twin steer axle group to operate at an increased mass.

3. Approval

These Regulations were approved by the Australian Transport Council on 21 February 2008.

Part 2 — Amendments to the Road Transport Reform (Mass and Loading) Regulations

4. Regulations being amended by this Part

These Regulations amend the Road Transport Reform (Mass and Loading) Regulations.

5. Mass limits relating to axle spacing

(1) In clause 1.3 of the Schedule –

(a) in subclause (1), for “42.5 tonnes” substitute “46.5 tonnes”;

(b) in Table 2, for the last item substitute –

(c) at the end of Table 2 insert the following items –

(2) For subclause 1.4 (1) of the Schedule substitute –

“(1) The total mass of a combination (including any load) other than a road train or a B-double must not exceed –

(a) in the case of a 7 axle combination that has a prime mover that is fitted with a twin steer axle group and that has a semi-trailer that is fitted with a tri-axle group, 46.5 tonnes; or

(b) in any other case, 42.5 tonnes.”.

Part 3 — Amendments to the Higher Mass Limits — Legislative Package

6. Provisions being amended by this Part

This Part amends the Higher Mass Limits — Legislative Package.

7. Application

In clause 2, for item 3 of the Table substitute –

8. Interpretation

In clause 3, after the definition of tri-axle group insert –

“twin steer axle group means a group of 2 axles:

(a) with single tyres; and

(b) fitted to a motor vehicle; and

(c) connected to the same steering mechanism; and

(d) the horizontal distance between whose centre-lines is at least 1 metre, but not more than 2 metres.”.

1. All legislative instruments and compilations are registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments kept under the Legislative Instruments Act 2003. See http://www.frli.gov.au.