Interstate Road Transport Charge Amendment Act 2000

No. 41, 2000

An Act to amend the Interstate Road Transport Charge Act 1985, and for related purposes

[Assented to 3 May 2000]

The Parliament of Australia enacts:

1 Short title

This Act may be cited as the Interstate Road Transport Charge Amendment Act 2000.

2 Commencement

(1) Subject to subsection (2), this Act commences on a day to be fixed by Proclamation.

(2) If this Act does not commence under subsection (1) before 1 January 2001, it commences on that day.

3 Schedule(s)

Each Act that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect according to its terms.

Schedule 1—Amendment of the Interstate Road Transport Charge Act 1985

1 At the end of subsection 4(1)

Add “mentioned in Part 2 of the Schedule”.

2 Subsection 5(2)

Omit “the table in”.

3 Clause 1 of Part 1 of the Schedule (definition of axle)

Repeal the definition, substitute:

axle means one or more shafts positioned in a line across a vehicle, on which one or more wheels intended to support the vehicle turn.

4 Clause 1 of Part 1 of the Schedule (definition of axle group)

Repeal the definition, substitute:

axle group means a single axle group, tandem axle group, twinsteer axle group, tri‑axle group or quad‑axle group.

5 Clause 1 of Part 1 of the Schedule (definition of bus)

Repeal the definition, substitute:

bus means a motor vehicle, built mainly to carry people, that seats more than 9 adults (including the driver).

6 Clause 1 of Part 1 of the Schedule (definition of bus (type 2))

Repeal the definition, substitute:

bus (type 2) means:

(a) a rigid bus that has 2 axles and an MRC exceeding 12 tonnes; or

(b) a rigid bus that has 3 axles or 4 axles.

7 Clause 1 of Part 1 of the Schedule

Insert:

converter dolly means a trailer, with one axle group or single axle and a fifth wheel coupling, designed to convert a semi trailer into a dog trailer.

8 Clause 1 of Part 1 of the Schedule (definition of dog trailer)

Repeal the definition, substitute:

dog trailer means a trailer (including a trailer consisting of a semi trailer and converter dolly) with:

(a) one axle group or single axle at the front that is steered by connection to the towing vehicle by a drawbar; and

(b) one axle group or single axle at the rear.

9 Clause 1 of Part 1 of the Schedule (definition of dolly)

Repeal the definition.

10 Clause 1 of Part 1 of the Schedule

Insert:

drawbar means a part of a trailer (other than a semi trailer) that connects the trailer body to a coupling for towing purposes.

11 Clause 1 of Part 1 of the Schedule

Insert:

driver means the person driving or in control of a motor vehicle.

12 Clause 1 of Part 1 of the Schedule

Insert:

fifth wheel coupling means a device, other than the upper rotating element and the kingpin (which are parts of a semi trailer), used with a prime mover, semi trailer or a converter dolly to permit quick coupling and uncoupling and to provide for articulation.

13 Clause 1 of Part 1 of the Schedule

Insert:

load carrying trailer means a trailer that is carrying a load or that is built to carry a load.

14 Clause 1 of Part 1 of the Schedule

Insert:

long combination prime mover means a prime mover nominated to haul 2 or more trailers, but does not include a medium combination prime mover.

15 Clause 1 of Part 1 of the Schedule (definition of long combination prime mover (type 1))

Repeal the definition.

16 Clause 1 of Part 1 of the Schedule (definition of long combination prime mover (type 2))

Repeal the definition.

17 Clause 1 of Part 1 of the Schedule

Insert:

low loader means a gooseneck semi trailer with a loading deck no more than 1 metre above the ground.

18 Clause 1 of Part 1 of the Schedule

Insert:

low loader dolly means a mass‑distributing device that:

(a) is usually coupled between a prime mover and low loader; and

(b) consists of a gooseneck rigid frame; and

(d) is equipped with one or more axles, a kingpin and a fifth wheel coupling.

19 Clause 1 of Part 1 of the Schedule (definition of medium combination truck)

Repeal the definition, substitute:

medium combination truck means a truck, other than a short combination truck, nominated to haul one trailer.

20 Clause 1 of Part 1 of the Schedule (definition of pig trailer)

Repeal the definition, substitute:

pig trailer means a trailer with one axle group or single axle near the middle of its load‑carrying surface, and connected to the towing vehicle by a drawbar.

21 Clause 1 of Part 1 of the Schedule (definition of pole type trailer)

Repeal the definition, substitute:

pole type trailer means a trailer that:

(a) is attached to a towing vehicle by means of a pole or an attachment fitted to a pole; and

(b) is ordinarily used for transporting loads, such as logs, pipes, structural members or other long objects, that are generally capable of supporting themselves like beams between supports.

22 Clause 1 of Part 1 of the Schedule

Insert:

quad‑axle group means a group of 4 axles, in which the horizontal distance between the centre‑lines of the outermost axles is more than 3.2 metres but not more than 4.9 metres.

23 Clause 1 of Part 1 of the Schedule (definition of Registration Authority)

Repeal the definition.

24 Clause 1 of Part 1 of the Schedule (definition of semi trailer)

Repeal the definition, substitute:

semi trailer means a trailer (including a pole type trailer) that has:

(a) one axle group or single axle towards the rear; and

(b) a means of attachment to a prime mover that results in some of the load being imposed on the prime mover.

25 Clause 1 of Part 1 of the Schedule (definition of short combination truck)

Repeal the definition, substitute:

short combination truck means a truck nominated to haul one trailer where, according to the nomination:

(a) the combination has 6 axles or fewer; and

(b) the maximum total mass that is legally allowable for the combination is 42.5 tonnes or less.

26 Clause 1 of Part 1 of the Schedule

Insert:

single axle means an axle not forming part of an axle group.

27 Clause 1 of Part 1 of the Schedule

Insert:

single axle group means a group of 2 or more axles, in which the horizontal distance between the centre‑lines of the outermost axles is less than 1 metre.

28 Clause 1 of Part 1 of the Schedule

Insert:

tandem axle group means a group of at least 2 axles, in which the horizontal distance between the centre‑lines of the outermost axles is at least 1 metre but not more than 2 metres.

29 Clause 1 of Part 1 of the Schedule

Insert:

tri‑axle group means a group of at least 3 axles, in which the horizontal distance between the centre‑lines of the outermost axles is more than 2 metres, but not more than 3.2 metres.

30 Clause 1 of Part 1 of the Schedule

Insert:

twinsteer axle group means a group of 2 axles:

(a) with single tyres; and

(b) fitted to a motor vehicle; and

(d) the horizontal distance between the centre‑lines of which is at least 1 metre, but not more than 2 metres.

31 Clause 2 of Part 1 of the Schedule

After “For the purposes of this Schedule”, insert “(other than the definitions of single axle group, tandem axle group, twinsteer axle group, tri‑axle group and quad‑axle group)”.

32 Clause 3 of Part 1 of the Schedule

Repeal the clause, substitute:

3. For the purposes of determining the number of trailers that a prime mover or truck may tow:

(a) a converter dolly and a semi trailer when used together are to be regarded as one trailer; and

(b) a low loader dolly and a low loader when used together are to be regarded as one trailer.

33 Part 2 of the Schedule

Repeal the Part, substitute:

Part 2—Annual registration charges

1 Load carrying vehicles

Load carrying vehicles
	Vehicle Type	2‑axle	3‑axle	4‑axle	5‑axle
1	Truck (type 1)	$300	$600	$900	$900
2	Truck (type 2)	$500	$800	$2,000	$2,000
3	Short combination truck	$550	$2,000	$2,000	$2,000
4	Medium combination truck	$3,800	$3,800	$4,100	$4,100
5	Long combination truck	$5,250	$5,250	$5,250	$5,250
6	Short combination prime mover	$1,300	$3,400	$4,400	$4,400
7	Medium combination prime mover	$4,000	$5,000	$5,500	$5,500
8	Long combination prime mover	$5,000	$5,000	$5,500	$5,500

2 Load carrying trailer, converter dolly and low loader dolly

The amount of the charge applicable to a load carrying trailer, a converter dolly or a low loader dolly is worked out using the formula:

3 Buses

Buses
Item	Bus Type	2‑axle	3‑axle	4‑axle
1	Bus (type 1)	$300	Not applicable	Not applicable
2	Bus (type 2)	$500	$1,250	$1,250
3	Articulated bus	Not applicable	$500	$500

34 Application of amendments

The amendments made by this Act apply to:

(a) if this Act commences on or before 1 July 2000—charges in respect of the registration of a motor vehicle or trailer that comes into force on or after 1 July 2000; or

(b) if this Act commences after 1 July 2000—charges in respect of the registration of a motor vehicle or trailer that comes into force after this Act commences.