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Welcome to another weekly update.
We are fast approaching Christmas and it's been a busy week in the office.
Photo: Christine Holgate, CEO Team Global Express
Last week I attended the Industry Skills Australia Supply Chain Leaders Summit at Parliament House where we heard from Christine Holgate, CEO of Team Global Express on diversity and pathways into the Transport Industry. We also heard from an expert panel, Mark McKenzie CEO ACAPMA, Catherine Walsh Chief People Officer Qantas, Videlina Georgieva Managing Director Svitzer Australia, Michael Kaine National Secretary TWU and Natalie James Secretary Department of Employment and Workplace Relations on industry training trends, attracting new workers and industrial relations reforms. Thank you to Paul Walsh, CEO Industry Skills Australia for the invitation.
Photo (L to R): Mark McKenzie CEO ACAPMA, Catherine Walsh CPO Qantas, Videlina Georgieva MD Svitzer Australia, Michael Kane National Secretary TWU, Natalie James Secretary DEWR
Bec Coleman and I also attended a National Women In Transport luncheon hosted at the National Portrait Gallery where we heard from Jo Farrell, ACT Australian of the Year, ACT Woman of the Year and founder of Build Like a Girl on women working in non-traditional industries and some of her challenges and experiences over the years. Jo spoke with candour about some of her struggles as a teen attempting to secure a carpentry apprenticeship in Wollongong and her early career through to working on a project in Lithuania decommissioning a nuclear power plant. It was a great event and wonderful to network with other women in industry.
I also had the pleasure of attending the Australian Seed Federation End of Year celebration. It was a well-attended event with representation from across the ag sector. Thank you to Katherine and her team for the invitation. It was great to talk shop over a few drinks and line up some election priorities and synergies, particularly around access, infrastructure investment and unlocking productivity.
As we look to the end of the year, there's some exciting projects coming to completion or near completion including the EBS: Braking Habits HVSI project with collateral and educational tools currently under review by HVSI team, Tara is busy finalising the copy for our inaugural ALRTA year book (due for publishing in January 2025), finalising speaker programs and sending out invitations for the LBRCA ALRTA National Rural Carriers Convention and reviewing the final draft of the Truck Wash Guide. Plus, gearing up for the looming Federal election which will be called in early 2025.
Next week will be our final newsletter for 2024 and a quick reminder to members that ALRTA Secretariat offices will be closed from COB Friday 20 December 2024 and reopening on 6 January 2025.
Until next week
Driver fatigue is a significant safety concern on Australian roads. To address this issue, the Australian Automobile Association (AAA), representing Australia’s motoring clubs, has completed important research through its Road Safety Research Program (RSRP). With $1.2 million in funding from state motoring clubs, this initiative evaluated fatigue detection technologies (FDTs) to assess their effectiveness and practical applications for fleets.
Key findings from the research, conducted by Monash University, the Institute for Breathing and Sleep, and Central Queensland University, include:
To assist fleet managers and safety officers, the AAA has created a practical guidebook. This free resource provides:
The guide, along with the full research report and technical summary, is available here.
Benoak Devons, New South Wales
Getting livestock transport Wright at Glenco
Northern Tablelands beef and wool producers Greg and Joanne Wright truck weaner cattle once they are strong, well-handled and settled - anywhere from 10 days to three weeks after weaning.
Top tips for successful weaner transport:
Check out the MLA Transport Hub for the full article and advice on preparation for transport.
Big changes are coming to the Mitchell Freeway Southbound, with Perth’s newest smart freeway going live on Sunday, December 22. With more than 1,400 pieces of advanced technology—like road sensors, CCTV cameras, and digital signs—this upgrade is set to make driving safer and smoother.
From managing merging traffic with on-ramp signals to adjusting speed limits in real time, these smart systems are designed to keep things moving, even during the busiest commutes. With improvements like these, morning peak-hour drivers could save up to seven minutes.
It’s part of a bigger picture for Perth’s roads, which includes a widened freeway section and new shared paths, thanks to joint funding by the Australian and WA governments. Smart solutions like these are paving the way for safer, more efficient journeys.
Want to know more? Check out the details at Main Roads WA.
The holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year, and staying safe on the road is critical for everyone—whether you're traveling to see family or working hard to deliver essential goods. As part of a nationwide effort, Operation Omega will see officers focusing on preventing fatigue-related incidents in high-risk areas this December.
The busy festive period can bring extra pressures but taking breaks and managing fatigue are essential for getting home safely. By working together, we can make the roads safer for everyone this Christmas.
For practical tips and more details about the initiative, visit the NHVR website for more information here. Let’s focus on safety this season and ensure every journey ends well.
The 2025 National Rural Carriers Convention will be held in Canberra at Thoroughbred Park, the home of horse racing Canberra.
LBRCA is hosting the Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA) to bring to you the largest gathering of rural carriers in Australia to celebrate 40 years of the ALRTA.
Our event will provide a unique opportunity for the rural transport industry from across Australia to meet and reflect on the past 40 years and focus on the next forty.
Our dynamic program, focusing on genuine issues, people, and solutions, will feature Ministers, regulators, state and federal transport authorities, local government representatives, supply chain partners and transporters from all federation partners including the LRTAWA, LRTAV, LRTASA, LRTAQ and LTAT.
Registrations are now open: lock it in here