{"id":"BILL-QLD-heavy-vehicle-national-law-amendment-bill-2025","name":"Heavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025","slug":"heavy-vehicle-national-law-amendment-bill-2025","collection":"bill","jurisdiction":"qld","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":"2025-01-01","administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":446101,"registerId":"BILL-QLD-heavy-vehicle-national-law-amendment-bill-2025:current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2025-01-01","status":"in_force","reasons":null,"registeredAt":"2026-05-06T12:45:17.123Z"},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"retrieval-0001","sectionType":"document_chunk","heading":"Document excerpt 1","content":"# Heavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\n\nQueensland\nHeavy Vehicle National Law\nAmendment Bill 2025\n\nQueensland\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment\nBill 2025\nContents\nPage\nPart 1 Preliminary\n1 Short title . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10\n2 Commencement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10\nPart 2 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law Act 2012\n3 Act amended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10\n4 Amendment of s 21 (Other consents under s 124 of the Law) . . 10\n5 Amendment of s 24 (Information notice for decision to refuse application\nbecause commissioner did not give consent) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11\n6 Amendment of s 25 (Information notice for imposition of condition\nrequested by commissioner) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11\n7 Omission of s 39 (Power to require production of driver licence) 11\n8 Amendment of s 42E (Amendment of s 707A (Proceeding for other\noffences)) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\n9 Law amended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12\n10 Amendment of s 4 (Regulatory framework to achieve object) . . . 12\n11 Amendment of s 5 (Definitions) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12\n12 Amendment of s 7 (Meaning of fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle) 15\n13 Amendment of s 22 (Application for PBS design approval) . . . . 16\n14 Amendment of s 23 (Application for PBS vehicle approval) . . . . 16\n15 Omission of s 25A (Keeping copy of PBS vehicle approval while driving)\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16\n16 Amendment of s 26 (National regulations) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16\n17 Amendment of s 26D (Duty of executive of legal entity) . . . . . . . 17\n18 Amendment of s 26E (Prohibited requests and contracts) . . . . . 17\n19 Insertion of new s 26I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18\n26I Alternative verdicts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18\n\nContents\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 2\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n20 Amendment of s 60 (Compliance with heavy vehicle standards) 19\n21 Amendment of s 62 (Restriction on grant of vehicle standards exemption\n(notice)) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19\n22 Replacement of ss 68–80 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19\n68 Vehicle standards exemption (permits) . . . . . . . . . . . 20\n23 Amendment of s 81 (Contravening condition of vehicle standards\nexemption) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20\n24 Omission of s 83 (Keeping copy of permit while driving under vehicle\nstandards exemption (permit)) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20\n25 Omission of ss 85–87A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20\n26 Amendment of s 88 (National regulations for heavy vehicle modification)\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20\n27 Replacement of s 92 (Display of warning signs required by heavy vehicle\nstandards on vehicles to which the requirement does not apply) 21\n92 Displaying warning signs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21\n28 Amendment of s 96 (Compliance with mass requirements) . . . . 21\n29 Amendment of s 102 (Compliance with dimension requirements) 22\n30 Omission of s 109 (Warning signals required for rear projection of loads)\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22\n31 Replacement of ss 122–128 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22\n122 Mass or dimension exemption (permits) for class 1 and class\n3 heavy vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22\n32 Omission of s 133 (Keeping copy of permit while driving under mass or\ndimension exemption (permit)) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23\n33 Omission of Pt 4.5, Div 5 (Other provision) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23\n34 Replacement of s 136 (Class 2 heavy vehicles) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23\n136 Class 2 heavy vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23\n35 Replacement of ss 143–149 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24\n143 Class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (permits) . . . . . . 24\n36 Omission of s 152 (Keeping copy of permit while driving under class 2\nheavy vehicle authorisation (permit)) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24\n37 Amendment of s 153A (Using restricted access vehicle) . . . . . . 24\n38 Omission of Pt 4.7, Divs 4 and 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25\n39 Amendment of s 186 (False or misleading transport documentation for\ngoods) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25\n40 Amendment of s 187 (False or misleading information in container weight\ndeclaration) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25\n41 Amendment of ch 6, hdg (Vehicle operations—driver fatigue) . . 26\n42 Amendment of s 220 (Main purpose of Ch 6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26\n\nContents\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 3\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n43 Amendment of s 221 (Definitions for Ch 6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26\n44 Replacement of Pt 6.2, hdg (Duties relating to fatigue) . . . . . . . . 27\n45 Omission of Pt 6.2, Div 1, hdg (Preliminary) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28\n46 Replacement of ss 224 and 225 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28\n224 Matters court may consider in deciding whether person was\nfatigued or unfit to drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28\n225 What is being impaired by fatigue or unfit to drive . . 29\n47 Amendment of s 226 (Matters court may consider in deciding whether\nperson was impaired by fatigue) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29\n48 Omission of Pt 6.2, Div 2, hdg (Duty to avoid fatigue) . . . . . . . . . 29\n49 Amendment of s 228 (Duty of driver to avoid driving while fatigued) 30\n50 Amendment of s 243 (What is a driver’s work and rest hours option) 30\n51 Omission of ss 246 and 246A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31\n52 Amendment of s 247 (Time to be counted after rest time ends) . 31\n53 Amendment of s 249 (Standard hours) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31\n54 Amendment of s 250 (Operating under standard hours—solo drivers)\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31\n55 Amendment of s 251 (Operating under standard hours—two-up drivers)\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31\n56 Replacement of Pt 6.3, Divs 3 and 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32\nDivision 3 Alternative compliance work and rest arrangements\n253 Alternative compliance hours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32\n254 Operating under alternative compliance hours . . . . . 32\n57 Amendment of s 260 (Operating under exemption hours) . . . . . 33\n58 Amendment of s 263 (Operating under new work and rest hours option\nafter change) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33\n59 Amendment of s 264 (Duty of employer, prime contractor, operator and\nscheduler to ensure driver compliance) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33\n60 Amendment of s 267 (Restriction on grant of work and rest hours\nexemption (notice)) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34\n61 Replacement of ss 273–285 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34\n273 Work and rest hours exemption (permits) . . . . . . . . . 34\n62 Amendment of s 287 (Keeping relevant document while operating under\nwork and rest hours exemption (notice)) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34\n63 Omission of s 288 (Keeping copy of permit while driving under work and\nrest hours exemption (permit)) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35\n64 Amendment of s 291 (Application of Sdiv 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35\n65 Amendment of s 293 (Driver of fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle must\n\nContents\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 4\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\ncarry work diary) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35\n66 Insertion of new s 293A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35\n293A Regulator may issue written work diaries . . . . . . . . . 35\n67 Amendment of s 294 (Purpose of and definition for Sdiv 2) . . . . 36\n68 Amendment of s 295 (National regulations for information to be included\nin work diary) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36\n69 Amendment of s 297 (Information required to be recorded immediately\nafter starting work) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36\n70 Omission of Pt 6.4, Div 2, Subdiv 3 (How information must be recorded\nin work diary) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36\n71 Amendment of s 307 (Driver who is record keeper must notify Regulator\nif electronic work diary filled up etc.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36\n72 Omission of s 308 (What driver must do if lost or stolen written work diary\nfound or returned) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37\n73 Amendment of s 309 (Driver must notify record keeper if electronic work\ndiary filled up etc.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37\n74 Amendment of s 312 (What record keeper must do if electronic work\ndiary destroyed, lost or stolen) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37\n75 Amendment of s 314 (How electronic work diary must be used) 37\n76 Amendment of s 315 (Ensuring driver complies with Sdivs 1–4) 37\n77 Amendment of s 317 (Who is a driver’s record keeper) . . . . . . . 38\n78 Amendment of Pt 6.4, Div 3, Subdiv 3, hdg (Record keeping obligations\nrelating to drivers undertaking 100+km work under standard hours or\noperating under BFM hours, AFM hours or exemption hours) . . 38\n79 Amendment of s 320 (Application of Sdiv 3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38\n80 Amendment of s 321 (Records record keeper must have) . . . . . 39\n81 Amendment of s 325 (False or misleading entries) . . . . . . . . . . . 39\n82 Amendment of s 326 (When possessing, or recording information in,\nmore than 1 work diary relating to the same period is prohibited) 39\n83 Amendment of s 327 (Possession of purported work records etc.\nprohibited) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40\n84 Amendment of s 328 (False representation about work records\nprohibited) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40\n85 Amendment of s 329 (Defacing or changing work records etc. prohibited)\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40\n86 Amendment of s 330 (Making entries in someone else’s work records\nprohibited) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40\n87 Amendment of s 331 (Destruction of particular work records prohibited)\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40\n88 Amendment of s 332 (Offence to remove pages from written work diary)\n\nContents\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 5\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41\n89 Amendment of s 335 (Person must not tamper with approved electronic\nrecording system) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41\n90 Amendment of s 336 (Person using approved electronic recording\nsystem must not permit tampering with it) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41\n91 Omission of Pt 6.4, Div 6 (Obtaining written work diary) . . . . . . . 41\n92 Amendment of s 341 (Period for which, and way in which, records must\nbe kept) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41\n93 Amendment of s 351 (Amendment or cancellation of approval on\napplication) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42\n94 Amendment of s 358 (Restriction on grant of work diary exemption\n(notice)) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42\n95 Replacement of ss 363–374 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42\n363 Work diary exemption (permits) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42\n96 Omission of s 377 (Keeping permit or copy while operating under work\ndiary exemption (permit)) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43\n97 Replacement of ss 383–393 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43\n383 Fatigue record keeping exemption (permits) . . . . . . . 43\n98 Amendment of s 456 (Purpose of Ch 8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43\n99 Replacement of s 457 (Definitions for Ch 8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43\n457 Requirements for heavy vehicle operations that may be\nsubject to alternative compliance accreditation . . . . . 44\n457A Safety management systems for operators of heavy vehicles\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44\n100 Amendment of s 458 (Regulator’s power to grant heavy vehicle\naccreditation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44\n101 Amendment of s 459 (Application for heavy vehicle accreditation) 45\n102 Replacement of s 461 (Restriction on grant of heavy vehicle\naccreditation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45\n461 Restriction on grant of heavy vehicle accreditation . . 45\n461A Restriction on grant of fatigue alternative compliance\naccreditation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47\n103 Amendment of s 462 (Conditions of heavy vehicle accreditation) 48\n104 Amendment of s 464 (Accreditation certificate for heavy vehicle\naccreditation etc.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49\n105 Omission of s 466 (Accreditation labels for maintenance management\naccreditation and mass management accreditation) . . . . . . . . . . 49\n106 Amendment of s 467 (Compliance with conditions of BFM accreditation\nor AFM accreditation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49\n107 Amendment of s 468 (Driver operating under BFM accreditation or AFM","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"retrieval-0002","sectionType":"document_chunk","heading":"Document excerpt 2","content":"Contents\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 6\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\naccreditation must carry accreditation details) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50\n108 Omission of s 469 (Driver must return particular documents if stops\noperating under BFM accreditation or AFM accreditation etc.) . . 50\n109 Amendment of s 470 (General requirements applying to operator with\nheavy vehicle accreditation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50\n110 Amendment of s 471 (Operator must give notice of amendment,\nsuspension or ending of heavy vehicle accreditation) . . . . . . . . . 52\n111 Amendment of s 472 (Amendment or cancellation of heavy vehicle\naccreditation on application) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52\n112 Amendment of s 473 (Amendment, suspension or cancellation of heavy\nvehicle accreditation on Regulator’s initiative) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52\n113 Amendment of s 474 (Immediate suspension of heavy vehicle\naccreditation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53\n114 Omission of ss 476 and 477 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53\n115 Amendment of s 478 (Offences relating to auditors) . . . . . . . . . . 53\n116 Insertion of new s 512A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53\n512A Definition for Pt 9.3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54\n117 Amendment of s 517 (Direction to move heavy vehicle if causing harm\netc.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54\n118 Amendment of s 522 (Power to order presentation of heavy vehicles for\ninspection) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55\n119 Amendment of s 524 (Direction to leave heavy vehicle) . . . . . . . 55\n120 Replacement of Pt 9.3, Div 8, hdg (Further powers in relation to fatigue-\nregulated heavy vehicles) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55\n121 Amendment of s 537 (Application of Div 8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55\n122 Amendment of s 540 (Requiring driver to stop working if impaired by\nfatigue) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55\n123 Amendment of s 573 (Contravention of improvement notice) . . . 56\n124 Amendment of s 576C (Compliance with prohibition notice) . . . . 56\n125 Amendment of s 590 (Formal warning) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56\n126 Amendment of s 632A (Using code of practice in proceeding) . . 57\n127 Insertion of new s 632B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57\n632B Use of audit of safety management system in proceeding 57\n128 Amendment of s 636 (Liability of executive officers of corporation) 57\n129 Amendment of s 637 (Treatment of unincorporated partnerships) 58\n130 Amendment of s 638 (Treatment of other unincorporated bodies) 58\n131 Insertion of new Pt 12.1, Div 1, hdg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58\n132 Replacement of s 651 (Policy directions) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58\n651 Policy directions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58\n\nContents\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 7\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n651A Directions to prevent or minimise serious public risk 59\n651B Directions in relation to alternative compliance accreditation\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59\n651C Directions to investigate or provide advice or information 60\n651D General provisions about directions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60\n133 Insertion of new Pt 12.1, Div 2, hdg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60\n134 Amendment of s 653 (Approved guidelines for exemptions,\nauthorisations, permits and other authorities) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61\n135 Amendment of s 654 (Other approvals) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61\n136 Insertion of new s 659A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62\n659A Responsible Ministers may issue statement of expectations\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62\n137 Amendment of s 663 (Membership of Board) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63\n138 Amendment of s 665 (Terms of office of members) . . . . . . . . . . 64\n139 Amendment of s 667 (Vacancy in office of member) . . . . . . . . . 64\n140 Amendment of s 695 (Corporate plans) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65\n141 Amendment of s 696 (Application of particular Queensland Acts to this\nLaw) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65\n142 Amendment of s 701 (False or misleading statements) . . . . . . . 65\n143 Amendment of s 702 (False or misleading documents) . . . . . . . 65\n144 Amendment of s 703 (False or misleading information given by\nresponsible person to another responsible person) . . . . . . . . . . 66\n145 Amendment of s 704 (Offence to falsely represent that heavy vehicle\nauthority is held etc.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66\n146 Replacement of Pt 13.2 (Industry codes of practice) . . . . . . . . . 66\nPart 13.2 Codes of practice\n705 Regulator may issue codes of practice . . . . . . . . . . . 66\n706 Responsible Ministers may give directions relating to codes\nof practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68\n147 Amendment of s 711 (Evidence by certificate by Regulator generally)\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68\n148 Amendment of s 727 (Definitions for Pt 13.4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68\n149 Insertion of new s 730A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69\n730A National regulations about exemption and authorisation\n(permits) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69\n150 Omission of s 751 (Expiry of industry codes of practice) . . . . . . 70\n151 Insertion of new Pt 14.5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70\nPart 14.5 Heavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Act 2025\n\nContents\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 8\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n(Queensland)\n760 Definition for Pt 14.5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70\n761 Existing heavy vehicle accreditation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70\n762 National Heavy Vehicle Regulator Board . . . . . . . . . 71\n152 Amendment of Sch 2 (Subject matter for conditions of mass or dimension\nauthorities) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71\n153 Amendment of Sch 3 (Reviewable decisions) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71\n154 Amendment of Sch 4 (Liability provisions) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75\n\n2025\nA Bill\nfor\nAn Act to amend the Heavy Vehicle National Law Act 2012 for\nparticular purposes\n\n[s 1]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 1 Preliminary\nPage 10\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nThe Parliament of Queensland enacts—\nPart 1 Preliminary\n1 Short title\nThis Act may be cited as the Heavy Vehicle National Law\nAmendment Act 2025.\n2 Commencement\nThis Act commences on a day to be fixed by proclamation.\nPart 2 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle\nNational Law Act 2012\n3 Act amended\nThis part amends the Heavy Vehicle National Law Act 2012.\n4 Amendment of s 21 (Other consents under s 124 of the\nLaw)\n(1) Section 21, heading, ‘s 124’—\nomit, insert—\ns 122\n(2) Section 21(1), ‘section 124(1)(c)’—\nomit, insert—\nsection 122(2)(c)\n1\n2\nClause 3\n4\n5\nClause 6\n7\n8\n9\nClause 10\n11\nClause 12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n\n[s 5]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law Act 2012\nPage 11\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n5 Amendment of s 24 (Information notice for decision to\nrefuse application because commissioner did not give\nconsent)\nSection 24(2), from ‘The’ to ‘section 128 of’—\nomit, insert—\nAn information notice for the decision to refuse\nthe application required to be given to the\napplicant under\n6 Amendment of s 25 (Information notice for imposition of\ncondition requested by commissioner)\n(1) Section 25(2), ‘section 127(1)(b) of’—\nomit.\n(2) Section 25(3), ‘section 127(1)(b)’—\nomit, insert—\nthe Law\n7 Omission of s 39 (Power to require production of driver\nlicence)\nSection 39—\nomit.\n8 Amendment of s 42E (Amendment of s 707A (Proceeding\nfor other offences))\n(1) Section 42E, inserted section 707A(6), definition fatigue\nmanagement offence, paragraphs (d) and (e)—\nomit.\n(2) Section 42E, inserted section 707A(6), definition fatigue\nmanagement offence, paragraph (f)—\nrenumber as paragraph (d).\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\nClause 9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\nClause 16\n17\n18\n19\nClause 20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n\n[s 9]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 12\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle\nNational Law\n9 Law amended\nThis part amends the Heavy Vehicle National Law as set out\nin the Schedule to the Heavy Vehicle National Law Act 2012.\n10 Amendment of s 4 (Regulatory framework to achieve\nobject)\nSection 4(c)(v), after ‘fatigued’—\ninsert—\nor unfit to drive\n11 Amendment of s 5 (Definitions)\n(1) Section 5, definitions AFM accreditation, AFM fatigue\nmanagement system, AFM hours, AFM standards and\nbusiness rules, approved, approved auditor, approved\nelectronic recording system, BFM accreditation, BFM fatigue\nmanagement system, BFM hours, BFM standards and\nbusiness rules, cancel, daily sheet, electronic recording\nsystem, fit, heavy vehicle accreditation, maintenance\nmanagement accreditation, maintenance management\nstandards and business rules, maintenance management\nsystem, mass management accreditation, mass management\nstandards and business rules, mass management system,\nregistered industry code of practice, relevant management\nsystem, relevant standards and business rules, sign of fatigue\nand twinsteer axle group—\nomit.\n(2) Section 5, in alphabetical order—\ninsert—\nalternative compliance accreditation means\naccreditation granted under section 458 in relation\n1\n2\nClause 3\n4\n5\nClause 6\n7\n8\n9\n10\nClause 11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n\n[s 11]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 13\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nto a prescribed operations requirement.\nalternative compliance hours has the meaning\ngiven by section 253.\napproved auditor, in relation to an audit of an\noperator’s safety management system, means an\nauditor of a class specified in the audit standard as\napproved to carry out the audit.\napproved electronic recording system means an\nelectronic recording system the subject of a\ncurrent approval under section 343 or a\ncorresponding fatigue law.\naudit standard means the standard for the\ncarrying out of audits of an operator’s safety\nmanagement system approved by the responsible\nMinisters under section 654(1)(a).\ncause of fatigue or being unfit to drive, for the\npurposes of Chapter 6, has the meaning given by\nsection 221.\nelectronic recording system means a system of\nrecording information electronically.\nfatigue alternative compliance accreditation\nmeans an alternative compliance accreditation\ngranted in relation to a prescribed operations\nrequirement relating to requirements under\nDivision 2 of Part 6.3.\nNote—\nThe Heavy Vehicle (Fatigue Management) National\nRegulation prescribes the requirements under Division 2\nof Part 6.3 of this Law as prescribed operations\nrequirements.\nfit, for the purposes of Part 9.3, has the meaning\ngiven by section 512A.\ngeneral safety accreditation means accreditation\ngranted under section 458 that is not related to a\nprescribed operations requirement.\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n34\n35\n\n[s 11]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 14\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nheavy vehicle accreditation means—\n(a) general safety accreditation; or\n(b) alternative compliance accreditation.\nprescribed operations requirement has the\nmeaning given by section 457.\nsafety management system has the meaning\ngiven by section 457A.\nsafety management system standard means the\nstandard for safety management systems\napproved by the responsible Ministers under\nsection 654(1)(b).\nsign of fatigue or being unfit to drive, for the\npurposes of Chapter 6, has the meaning given by\nsection 221.\nstandard for alternative compliance hours\nmeans the standard for alternative compliance\nhours approved by the responsible Ministers\nunder section 654(1)(c).\ntwinsteer axle group means a group of 2 axles\nthat meets the requirements prescribed for the\npurposes of this definition by the national\nregulations.\nunfit to drive has the meaning given by section\n225(2).\n(3) Section 5, definition class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation\n(permit), ‘section 143(2)’—\nomit, insert—\nsection 143\n(4) Section 5, definition impaired by fatigue, ‘section 225’—\nomit, insert—\nsection 225(1)\n(5) Section 5, definition indictable offence, after ‘section 26F’—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n\n[s 12]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 15\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\ninsert—\nand includes an offence mentioned in section\n26D(1A) with the penalty mentioned in section\n26F\n(6) Section 5, definition mass or dimension exemption (permit),\n‘section 122(3)’—\nomit, insert—\nsection 122(1)\n(7) Section 5, definition night rest break, note, ‘sections 248 and\n303’—\nomit, insert—\nsection 248\n(8) Section 5, definition tamper, paragraph (b)—\nomit.\n(9) Section 5, definition vehicle standards exemption (permit),\n‘section 68(2)’—\nomit, insert—\nsection 68\n(10) Section 5, definition work and rest hours exemption (permit),\n‘section 273(2)’—\nomit, insert—\nsection 273\n(11) Section 5, definition work diary exemption (permit), ‘section\n363(2)’—\nomit, insert—\nsection 363\n12 Amendment of s 7 (Meaning of fatigue-regulated heavy\nvehicle)\nSection 7(1)(a), (b) and (3)(a), ‘12t’—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\nClause 27\n28\n29\n\n[s 13]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 16\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nomit, insert—\nthe GVM prescribed by the national regulations\n13 Amendment of s 22 (Application for PBS design approval)\nSection 22(2)—\nomit, insert—\n(2) In assessing the application, the Regulator must\nhave regard to the matters prescribed by the\nnational regulations for the purposes of this\nsubsection.\n14 Amendment of s 23 (Application for PBS vehicle\napproval)\nSection 23(2)—\nomit, insert—\n(2) In assessing the application, the Regulator must\nhave regard to the matters prescribed by the\nnational regulations for the purposes of this\nsubsection.\n15 Omission of s 25A (Keeping copy of PBS vehicle approval\nwhile driving)\nSection 25A—\nomit.\n16 Amendment of s 26 (National regulations)\n(1) Section 26(d), ‘certifiers.’—\nomit, insert—\ncertifiers; and\n(2) Section 26—\n1\n2\nClause 3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\nClause 10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\nClause 18\n19\n20\n21\nClause 22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n\n[s 17]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 17\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\ninsert—\n(e) requirements to keep a copy of a PBS\nvehicle approval.\n17 Amendment of s 26D (Duty of executive of legal entity)\n(1) Section 26D(1), after ‘a safety duty’—\ninsert—\n, other than a safety duty imposed under section\n26C\n(2) Section 26D—\ninsert—\n(1A) If a legal entity has a safety duty imposed under\nsection 26C, an executive of the legal entity must\nexercise due diligence to ensure the legal entity\ncomplies with the safety duty.\nMaximum penalty—the penalty for a\ncontravention of section 26F, 26G or 26H by an\nindividual, as appropriate.\n(3) Section 26D(2), after ‘subsection (1)’—\ninsert—\nor (1A)\n(4) Section 26D(2A), ‘Subsection (1) does not’—\nomit, insert—\nSubsections (1) and (1A) do not\n18 Amendment of s 26E (Prohibited requests and contracts)\n(1) Section 26E(1)(b)—\nomit, insert—\n(b) to drive a heavy vehicle while impaired by\nfatigue or unfit to drive; or\n1\n2\n3\nClause 4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\nClause 24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n\n[s 19]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 18\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n(2) Section 26E(1)(d), from ‘fatigue-regulated’ to ‘impaired by\nfatigue’—\nomit, insert—\nheavy vehicle in breach of another law in order to\navoid driving while impaired by fatigue or unfit to\ndrive\n(3) Section 26E(1) and (2), penalty, ‘$10000’—\nomit, insert—\n$20000\n(4) Section 26E(2)(b)—\nomit, insert—\n(b) to drive a heavy vehicle while impaired by\nfatigue or unfit to drive; or\n(5) Section 26E(2)(d), from ‘fatigue-regulated’ to ‘impaired by\nfatigue’—\nomit, insert—\nheavy vehicle in breach of another law in order to\navoid driving while impaired by fatigue or unfit to\ndrive\n19 Insertion of new s 26I\nAfter section 26H—\ninsert—\n26I Alternative verdicts\n(1) In proceedings for an offence under section 26F,\nif the court is not satisfied the offence is proven,\nbut is satisfied the person committed an offence\nunder section 26G or 26H, the court may find the\nperson guilty of the offence under section 26G or\n26H, and the person is liable to punishment\naccordingly.\n(2) In proceedings for an offence under section 26G,\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\nClause 20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"retrieval-0003","sectionType":"document_chunk","heading":"Document excerpt 3","content":"[s 20]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 19\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nif the court is not satisfied the offence is proven,\nbut is satisfied the person committed an offence\nunder section 26H, the court may find the person\nguilty of the offence under section 26H, and the\nperson is liable to punishment accordingly.\n20 Amendment of s 60 (Compliance with heavy vehicle\nstandards)\n(1) Section 60(1), penalty—\nomit, insert—\nMaximum penalty—$6000.\n(2) Section 60(2) to (5)—\nomit, insert—\n(2) Subsection (1) does not apply in circumstances\nprescribed by the national regulations.\n21 Amendment of s 62 (Restriction on grant of vehicle\nstandards exemption (notice))\nSection 62(1)—\nomit, insert—\n(1) The Regulator may grant a vehicle standards\nexemption (notice) for a category of heavy\nvehicles only—\n(a) in the circumstances prescribed by the\nnational regulations; and\n(b) if the Regulator is satisfied the use of the\nheavy vehicles on a road under the\nexemption will not pose a significant safety\nrisk.\n22 Replacement of ss 68–80\nSections 68 to 80—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\nClause 6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\nClause 15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\nClause 28\n29\n\n[s 23]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 20\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nomit, insert—\n68 Vehicle standards exemption (permits)\nThe Regulator may, by giving a person a vehicle\nstandards exemption (permit), exempt 1 or more\nheavy vehicles from compliance with a heavy\nvehicle standard for a stated period.\nNote—\nSee section 730A for regulation-making powers in\nrelation to vehicle standards exemption (permits).\n23 Amendment of s 81 (Contravening condition of vehicle\nstandards exemption)\nSection 81(1), (2) and (3), penalty, ‘$4000’—\nomit, insert—\n$6000\n24 Omission of s 83 (Keeping copy of permit while driving\nunder vehicle standards exemption (permit))\nSection 83—\nomit.\n25 Omission of ss 85–87A\nSections 85 to 87A—\nomit.\n26 Amendment of s 88 (National regulations for heavy\nvehicle modification)\n(1) Section 88, before ‘The’—\ninsert—\n(1)\n(2) Section 88—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\nClause 10\n11\n12\n13\n14\nClause 15\n16\n17\n18\nClause 19\n20\n21\nClause 22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n\n[s 27]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 21\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\ninsert—\n(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the national\nregulations may provide for the following—\n(a) the approval of a modification of a heavy\nvehicle, including by the Regulator or an\napproved vehicle examiner;\n(b) offences for tampering with plates or labels\nattached to modified heavy vehicles.\n27 Replacement of s 92 (Display of warning signs required\nby heavy vehicle standards on vehicles to which the\nrequirement does not apply)\nSection 92—\nomit, insert—\n92 Displaying warning signs\nThe national regulations may prescribe\nrequirements for the display of warning signs on\nheavy vehicles, including as a heavy vehicle\nstandard or in relation to mass, dimension and\nloading.\n28 Amendment of s 96 (Compliance with mass\nrequirements)\nSection 96(5)—\nomit, insert—\n(5) This section does not apply to a heavy vehicle that\nis prescribed as a specified PBS vehicle under a\nregulation made under section 136.\nNote—\nIf a heavy vehicle that is prescribed as a specified PBS\nvehicle does not comply with the mass requirements that\napply to the heavy vehicle, it would be a class 2 heavy\nvehicle and could be dealt with under section 137.\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\nClause 9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\nClause 20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n\n[s 29]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 22\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n29 Amendment of s 102 (Compliance with dimension\nrequirements)\n(1) Section 102(1), penalty, paragraphs (a) and (b)(i), ‘$3000’—\nomit, insert—\n$4000\n(2) Section 102(1), penalty, paragraph (b)(ii), ‘$5000’—\nomit, insert—\n$6000\n30 Omission of s 109 (Warning signals required for rear\nprojection of loads)\nSection 109—\nomit.\n31 Replacement of ss 122–128\nSections 122 to 128—\nomit, insert—\n122 Mass or dimension exemption (permits) for\nclass 1 and class 3 heavy vehicles\n(1) The Regulator may, by giving a person a mass or\ndimension exemption (permit), exempt 1 or more\nclass 1 heavy vehicles or class 3 heavy vehicles\nfrom compliance with any of the following for a\nstated period—\n(a) a prescribed mass requirement;\n(b) a prescribed dimension requirement;\n(c) a requirement relating to the GCM of the\nvehicle.\nNote—\nSee section 730A for regulation-making powers in\nrelation to mass or dimension exemption (permits).\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\nClause 9\n10\n11\n12\nClause 13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n\n[s 32]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 23\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n(2) The Regulator may grant a mass or dimension\nexemption (permit) for a heavy vehicle only if—\n(a) the Regulator is satisfied the use of the\nheavy vehicle on a road under the permit\nwill not pose a significant risk to public\nsafety; and\n(b) each relevant road manager for the\nexemption has consented to the grant; and\n(c) the Regulator is satisfied all other consents\nrequired for the exemption under the law of\nthe relevant jurisdiction have been obtained\nby the applicant or have been otherwise\ngiven.\n(3) In deciding whether to grant a mass or dimension\nexemption (permit), the Regulator must have\nregard to the approved guidelines for granting\nmass or dimension exemptions.\n32 Omission of s 133 (Keeping copy of permit while driving\nunder mass or dimension exemption (permit))\nSection 133—\nomit.\n33 Omission of Pt 4.5, Div 5 (Other provision)\nPart 4.5, Division 5—\nomit.\n34 Replacement of s 136 (Class 2 heavy vehicles)\nSection 136—\nomit, insert—\n136 Class 2 heavy vehicles\nA heavy vehicle is a class 2 heavy vehicle if the\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\nClause 18\n19\n20\n21\nClause 22\n23\n24\nClause 25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n\n[s 35]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 24\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nheavy vehicle meets the requirements prescribed\nfor the purposes of this section by the national\nregulations.\n35 Replacement of ss 143–149\nSections 143 to 149—\nomit, insert—\n143 Class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (permits)\nThe Regulator may, by giving a person a class 2\nheavy vehicle authorisation (permit), authorise\nthe use of 1 or more class 2 heavy vehicles—\n(a) in stated areas or on stated routes; and\n(b) during stated hours of stated days.\nNote—\nSee section 730A for regulation-making powers in\nrelation to class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (permits).\n36 Omission of s 152 (Keeping copy of permit while driving\nunder class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation (permit))\nSection 152—\nomit.\n37 Amendment of s 153A (Using restricted access vehicle)\n(1) Section 153A(2), definitions restricted access vehicle and\nspecified semitrailer—\nomit.\n(2) Section 153A(2), in alphabetical order—\ninsert—\nrestricted access vehicle means a heavy vehicle that meets the\nrequirements prescribed for the purposes of this definition by\nthe national regulations.\n1\n2\n3\nClause 4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\nClause 16\n17\n18\n19\nClause 20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n\n[s 38]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 25\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nsafer freight combination means a combination that meets\nthe requirements prescribed for the purposes of this definition\nby the national regulations.\nspecified semitrailer means a semitrailer that meets the\nrequirements prescribed for the purposes of this definition by\nthe national regulations.\n(3) Section 153A(3)(b)—\nomit, insert—\n(b) a heavy vehicle that is prescribed as a\nspecified PBS vehicle under a regulation\nmade under section 136; or\n(4) Section 153A(3)(e)—\nomit, insert—\n(e) a safer freight combination.\n38 Omission of Pt 4.7, Divs 4 and 5\nPart 4.7, Divisions 4 and 5—\nomit.\n39 Amendment of s 186 (False or misleading transport\ndocumentation for goods)\nSection 186(2), (3), (4) and (5), penalty, ‘$10000’—\nomit, insert—\n$20000\n40 Amendment of s 187 (False or misleading information in\ncontainer weight declaration)\nSection 187(2) and (3), penalty, ‘$10000’—\nomit, insert—\n$20000\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\nClause 15\n16\n17\nClause 18\n19\n20\n21\n22\nClause 23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n\n[s 41]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 26\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n41 Amendment of ch 6, hdg (Vehicle operations—driver\nfatigue)\nChapter 6, heading, after ‘fatigue’—\ninsert—\nand fitness to drive\n42 Amendment of s 220 (Main purpose of Ch 6)\n(1) Section 220(1), from ‘of drivers’ to ‘vehicles’—\nomit, insert—\nand fitness to drive of drivers of heavy vehicles\n(2) Section 220(2)(a) to (c)—\nomit, insert—\n(a) imposing a duty on drivers of heavy vehicles\nto not drive a heavy vehicle on a road while\nimpaired by fatigue or unfit to drive; and\n43 Amendment of s 221 (Definitions for Ch 6)\n(1) Section 221, definitions AFM fatigue management system,\nAFM hours, approved electronic recording system, approved\nsleeper berth, BFM hours, cancel, daily sheet, electronic\nrecording system, fatigue and impaired by fatigue—\nomit.\n(2) Section 221, in alphabetical order—\ninsert—\napproved sleeper berth, for a fatigue-regulated\nheavy vehicle, means a driver’s sleeper berth\nprescribed by the national regulations.\n(3) Section 221, definition cause of fatigue, after ‘cause of\nfatigue’—\ninsert—\nor being unfit to drive\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\n5\nClause 6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\nClause 15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n\n[s 44]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 27\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n(4) Section 221, definition cause of fatigue or being unfit to drive,\nas amended by subsection (3), ‘while driving a\nfatigue-regulated heavy vehicle’—\nomit, insert—\nor unfit to drive while driving a heavy vehicle\n(5) Section 221, definition night work time, note, ‘sections 248\nand 303’—\nomit, insert—\nsection 248\n(6) Section 221, definition sign of fatigue, after ‘sign of\nfatigue’—\ninsert—\nor being unfit to drive\n(7) Section 221, definition sign of fatigue or being unfit to drive,\nas amended by subsection (6), ‘while driving a\nfatigue-regulated heavy vehicle’—\nomit, insert—\nor unfit to drive while driving a heavy vehicle\n(8) Section 221, definition written work diary, ‘section 340’—\nomit, insert—\nsection 293A\n44 Replacement of Pt 6.2, hdg (Duties relating to fatigue)\nPart 6.2, heading—\nomit, insert—\nPart 6.2 Duty to not drive while\nfatigued or unfit to\ndrive\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\nClause 22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n\n[s 45]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 28\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n45 Omission of Pt 6.2, Div 1, hdg (Preliminary)\nPart 6.2, Division 1, heading—\nomit.\n46 Replacement of ss 224 and 225\nSections 224 and 225—\nomit, insert—\n224 Matters court may consider in deciding\nwhether person was fatigued or unfit to drive\n(1) When deciding whether the driver of a heavy\nvehicle was fatigued or unfit to drive, a court may\nconsider the following—\n(a) what is commonly understood as being\nfatigued or unfit to drive;\n(b) the causes of fatigue or being unfit to drive;\n(c) the signs of fatigue or being unfit to drive;\n(d) any relevant body of knowledge;\n(e) any other matter prescribed by the national\nregulations.\n(2) Subsection (1) does not limit the matters the court\nmay consider when deciding whether a driver was\nimpaired by fatigue or unfit to drive.\n(3) In this section—\nrelevant body of knowledge means any\naccreditation scheme, approved guidelines,\nscientific knowledge, expert opinion, codes of\npractice, standards or other knowledge about\npreventing or managing exposure to risks to\nsafety either on a road or in a workplace, arising\nfrom fatigue or being unfit to drive.\nClause 1\n2\n3\nClause 4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n\n[s 47]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 29\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n225 What is being impaired by fatigue or unfit to\ndrive\n(1) A driver is impaired by fatigue if the driver’s\nability to drive a heavy vehicle on a road safely is\naffected by fatigue.\n(2) A driver of a heavy vehicle is unfit to drive the\nheavy vehicle on a road if the driver is not of\nsufficiently good health or fitness to drive the\nheavy vehicle safely.\n47 Amendment of s 226 (Matters court may consider in\ndeciding whether person was impaired by fatigue)\n(1) Section 226, heading, after ‘fatigue’—\ninsert—\nor unfit to drive\n(2) Section 226(1), from ‘fatigue-regulated’ to ‘fatigue’—\nomit, insert—\nheavy vehicle was impaired by fatigue or unfit to\ndrive\n(3) Section 226(1)(a), from ‘or sign’—\nomit, insert—\nor sign of fatigue or being unfit to drive that was\nevident, and the degree to which it may indicate\nthat the driver was impaired by fatigue or unfit to\ndrive;\n(4) Section 226(1)(b), (2) and (3), after ‘fatigue’—\ninsert—\nor unfit to drive\n48 Omission of Pt 6.2, Div 2, hdg (Duty to avoid fatigue)\nPart 6.2, Division 2, heading—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\nClause 10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\nClause 28\n29\n\n[s 49]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 30\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nomit.\n49 Amendment of s 228 (Duty of driver to avoid driving while\nfatigued)\n(1) Section 228, heading, after ‘fatigued’—\ninsert—\nor unfit to drive\n(2) Section 228(1)—\nomit, insert—\n(1) A person must not drive a heavy vehicle on a road\nwhile the person is impaired by fatigue or unfit to\ndrive.\nMaximum penalty—$20000.\n50 Amendment of s 243 (What is a driver’s work and rest\nhours option)\n(1) Section 243(2)(a)(i), ‘BFM accreditation, AFM\naccreditation’—\nomit, insert—\nfatigue alternative compliance accreditation\n(2) Section 243(2)(b) and (c)—\nomit, insert—\n(b) the alternative compliance arrangements,\nwhich—\n(i) apply to drivers of fatigue-regulated\nheavy vehicles operating under a\nfatigue alternative compliance\naccreditation; and\n(ii) are known as ‘alternative compliance\nhours’; or\n1\nClause 2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\nClause 13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n\n[s 51]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 31\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n51 Omission of ss 246 and 246A\nSections 246 and 246A—\nomit.\n52 Amendment of s 247 (Time to be counted after rest time\nends)\n(1) Section 247(a), ‘a relevant major rest break’—\nomit, insert—\nthe longest major rest break required in a period\nunder the driver’s work and rest hours option\n(2) Section 247, example, ‘the relevant major rest break’—\nomit, insert—\nthe longest major rest break\n53 Amendment of s 249 (Standard hours)\nSection 249(1), ‘BFM accreditation, AFM accreditation’—\nomit, insert—\nfatigue alternative compliance accreditation\n54 Amendment of s 250 (Operating under standard\nhours—solo drivers)\nSection 250(1), penalty, paragraph (a), ‘$4000’—\nomit, insert—\n$3000\n55 Amendment of s 251 (Operating under standard\nhours—two-up drivers)\nSection 251(1), penalty, paragraph (a), ‘$4000’—\nomit, insert—\nClause 1\n2\n3\nClause 4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\nClause 13\n14\n15\n16\nClause 17\n18\n19\n20\n21\nClause 22\n23\n24\n25\n\n[s 56]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 32\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n$3000\n56 Replacement of Pt 6.3, Divs 3 and 4\nPart 6.3, Divisions 3 and 4—\nomit, insert—\nDivision 3 Alternative compliance\nwork and rest\narrangements\n253 Alternative compliance hours\n(1) In this Law, the alternative compliance hours are\nthe maximum work times and minimum rest times\nthat apply, for a period, to the driver of a\nfatigue-regulated heavy vehicle operating under a\nfatigue alternative compliance accreditation.\n(2) The alternative compliance hours are stated in the\naccreditation certificate for the fatigue alternative\ncompliance accreditation.\nNote—\nUnder section 461A, the alternative compliance hours\nspecified by the Regulator when granting fatigue\nalternative compliance accreditation must comply with\nthe standard for alternative compliance hours.\n254 Operating under alternative compliance hours\nThe driver of a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle\ncommits an offence if, in any period stated in the\nalternative compliance hours for the driver, the\ndriver—\n(a) works for more than the maximum work\ntime stated in the alternative compliance\nhours; or\n1\nClause 2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n\n[s 57]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 33\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n(b) rests for less than the minimum rest time\nstated in the alternative compliance hours.\nMaximum penalty—\n(a) for a minor risk breach—$3000; or\n(b) for a substantial risk breach—$6000; or\n(c) for a severe risk breach—$10000; or\n(d) for a critical risk breach—$15000.\n57 Amendment of s 260 (Operating under exemption hours)\nSection 260(1), penalty, paragraph (a), ‘$4000’—\nomit, insert—\n$3000\n58 Amendment of s 263 (Operating under new work and rest\nhours option after change)\n(1) Section 263(1)(a), ‘or BFM hours’—\nomit.\n(2) Section 263(1)(a), examples—\nomit.\n(3) Section 263(1)(b), ‘AFM hours’—\nomit, insert—\nalternative compliance hours\n(4) Section 263(1)(c), example—\nomit.\n59 Amendment of s 264 (Duty of employer, prime contractor,\noperator and scheduler to ensure driver compliance)\nSection 264(2), penalty, ‘$6000’—\nomit, insert—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\nClause 8\n9\n10\n11\nClause 12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\nClause 23\n24\n25\n26","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"retrieval-0004","sectionType":"document_chunk","heading":"Document excerpt 4","content":"[s 60]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 34\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n$10000\n60 Amendment of s 267 (Restriction on grant of work and\nrest hours exemption (notice))\nSection 267(1)(b), from ‘BFM hours’ to ‘AFM\naccreditation’—\nomit, insert—\nalternative compliance hours—the requirements\napplying to a fatigue alternative compliance\naccreditation\n61 Replacement of ss 273–285\nSections 273 to 285—\nomit, insert—\n273 Work and rest hours exemption (permits)\nThe Regulator may, by giving a person a work\nand rest hours exemption (permit), grant an\nexemption to allow the following to operate under\nstated maximum work times and minimum rest\ntimes for a stated period—\n(a) a driver of a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle;\n(b) a class of drivers of fatigue-regulated heavy\nvehicles.\nNote—\nSee section 730A for regulation-making powers in\nrelation to work and rest hours exemption (permits).\n62 Amendment of s 287 (Keeping relevant document while\noperating under work and rest hours exemption (notice))\nSection 287(2) and (3), penalty, ‘$3000’—\nomit, insert—\n$1500\n1\nClause 2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\nClause 10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\nClause 25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n\n[s 63]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 35\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n63 Omission of s 288 (Keeping copy of permit while driving\nunder work and rest hours exemption (permit))\nSection 288—\nomit.\n64 Amendment of s 291 (Application of Sdiv 1)\nSection 291(c) and (d), ‘BFM hours, AFM hours’—\nomit, insert—\nalternative compliance hours\n65 Amendment of s 293 (Driver of fatigue-regulated heavy\nvehicle must carry work diary)\nSection 293(1), penalty, ‘$6000’—\nomit, insert—\n$10000\n66 Insertion of new s 293A\nAfter section 293—\ninsert—\n293A Regulator may issue written work diaries\n(1) The Regulator may issue a written work diary to a\ndriver of a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle.\n(2) The national regulations may provide for the\nfollowing—\n(a) applications for a written work diary,\nincluding making and determining an\napplication;\n(b) the form of a written work diary;\n(c) the matters that must be contained in a\nwritten work diary.\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\nClause 5\n6\n7\n8\nClause 9\n10\n11\n12\n13\nClause 14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n\n[s 67]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 36\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n67 Amendment of s 294 (Purpose of and definition for Sdiv\n2)\nSection 294(1)(b), ‘BFM hours, AFM hours’—\nomit, insert—\nalternative compliance hours\n68 Amendment of s 295 (National regulations for information\nto be included in work diary)\nSection 295, after subsection (3)—\ninsert—\n(4) The national regulations may provide for how a\ndriver’s work time and rest time are counted in the\ndriver’s work diary.\n69 Amendment of s 297 (Information required to be recorded\nimmediately after starting work)\nSection 297(2), penalty, ‘$6000’—\nomit, insert—\n$4000\n70 Omission of Pt 6.4, Div 2, Subdiv 3 (How information\nmust be recorded in work diary)\nPart 6.4, Division 2, Subdivision 3—\nomit.\n71 Amendment of s 307 (Driver who is record keeper must\nnotify Regulator if electronic work diary filled up etc.)\nSection 307(2) and (3), penalty, ‘$3000’—\nomit, insert—\n$1500\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\n5\nClause 6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\nClause 13\n14\n15\n16\n17\nClause 18\n19\n20\n21\nClause 22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n\n[s 72]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 37\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n72 Omission of s 308 (What driver must do if lost or stolen\nwritten work diary found or returned)\nSection 308—\nomit.\n73 Amendment of s 309 (Driver must notify record keeper if\nelectronic work diary filled up etc.)\nSection 309(2), penalty, ‘$3000’—\nomit, insert—\n$1500\n74 Amendment of s 312 (What record keeper must do if\nelectronic work diary destroyed, lost or stolen)\nSection 312(2) and (3), penalty, ‘$6000’—\nomit, insert—\n$3000\n75 Amendment of s 314 (How electronic work diary must be\nused)\nSection 314(2), penalty, ‘$3000’—\nomit, insert—\n$1500\n76 Amendment of s 315 (Ensuring driver complies with\nSdivs 1–4)\n(1) Section 315, heading, ‘Sdivs 1–4’—\nomit, insert—\nSdivs 1, 2 and 4\n(2) Section 315(1), ‘Subdivisions 1, 2, 3 and 4’—\nomit, insert—\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\nClause 5\n6\n7\n8\n9\nClause 10\n11\n12\n13\n14\nClause 15\n16\n17\n18\n19\nClause 20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n\n[s 77]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 38\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nSubdivisions 1, 2 and 4\n(3) Section 315(1), penalty, ‘$6000’—\nomit, insert—\n$10000\n77 Amendment of s 317 (Who is a driver’s record keeper)\nSection 317(a)—\nomit, insert—\n(a) the operator of the vehicle, if the driver is\noperating under—\n(i) the operator’s fatigue alternative\ncompliance accreditation; or\n(ii) a work and rest hours exemption\n(permit) granted in combination with\nthe operator’s fatigue alternative\ncompliance accreditation;\n78 Amendment of Pt 6.4, Div 3, Subdiv 3, hdg (Record\nkeeping obligations relating to drivers undertaking\n100+km work under standard hours or operating under\nBFM hours, AFM hours or exemption hours)\nPart 6.4, Division 3, Subdivision 3, heading, ‘or operating\nunder BFM hours, AFM hours’—\nomit, insert—\n, alternative compliance hours\n79 Amendment of s 320 (Application of Sdiv 3)\nSection 320(b), ‘BFM hours, AFM hours’—\nomit, insert—\nalternative compliance hours\n1\n2\n3\n4\nClause 5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\nClause 16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\nClause 24\n25\n26\n27\n\n[s 80]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 39\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n80 Amendment of s 321 (Records record keeper must have)\n(1) Section 321(3), ‘BFM hours or AFM hours’—\nomit, insert—\nalternative compliance hours\n(2) Section 321(3)(a), ‘BFM accreditation or AFM\naccreditation’—\nomit, insert—\nfatigue alternative compliance accreditation\n(3) Section 321(3)(b), from ‘BFM standards’ to ‘business\nrules.’—\nomit, insert—\nsafety management system standard.\n(4) Section 321(3), note, ‘BFM accreditation or AFM\naccreditation’—\nomit, insert—\nfatigue alternative compliance accreditation\n(5) Section 321(8), definitions AFM standards and business rules\nand BFM standards and business rules—\nomit.\n81 Amendment of s 325 (False or misleading entries)\nSection 325(1), penalty, ‘$10000’—\nomit, insert—\n$20000\n82 Amendment of s 326 (When possessing, or recording\ninformation in, more than 1 work diary relating to the\nsame period is prohibited)\nSection 326(1), ‘on a daily sheet’—\nomit.\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\nClause 20\n21\n22\n23\nClause 24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n\n[s 83]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 40\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n83 Amendment of s 327 (Possession of purported work\nrecords etc. prohibited)\nSection 327, penalty, ‘$10000’—\nomit, insert—\n$20000\n84 Amendment of s 328 (False representation about work\nrecords prohibited)\nSection 328, penalty, ‘$10000’—\nomit, insert—\n$20000\n85 Amendment of s 329 (Defacing or changing work records\netc. prohibited)\nSection 329, penalty, ‘$10000’—\nomit, insert—\n$20000\n86 Amendment of s 330 (Making entries in someone else’s\nwork records prohibited)\nSection 330(1), penalty, ‘$10000’—\nomit, insert—\n$20000\n87 Amendment of s 331 (Destruction of particular work\nrecords prohibited)\nSection 331, penalty, ‘$10000’—\nomit, insert—\n$20000\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\n5\nClause 6\n7\n8\n9\n10\nClause 11\n12\n13\n14\n15\nClause 16\n17\n18\n19\n20\nClause 21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n\n[s 88]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 41\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n88 Amendment of s 332 (Offence to remove pages from\nwritten work diary)\n(1) Section 332, ‘daily’ (wherever appearing)—\nomit.\n(2) Section 332, penalty, ‘$10000’—\nomit, insert—\n$20000\n89 Amendment of s 335 (Person must not tamper with\napproved electronic recording system)\nSection 335(1), penalty, ‘$10000’—\nomit, insert—\n$20000\n90 Amendment of s 336 (Person using approved electronic\nrecording system must not permit tampering with it)\nSection 336(1), penalty, ‘$10000’—\nomit, insert—\n$20000\n91 Omission of Pt 6.4, Div 6 (Obtaining written work diary)\nPart 6.4, Division 6—\nomit.\n92 Amendment of s 341 (Period for which, and way in which,\nrecords must be kept)\nSection 341(2) and (5), penalty, ‘$6000’—\nomit, insert—\n$4000\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\nClause 8\n9\n10\n11\n12\nClause 13\n14\n15\n16\n17\nClause 18\n19\n20\nClause 21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n\n[s 93]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 42\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n93 Amendment of s 351 (Amendment or cancellation of\napproval on application)\n(1) Section 351(2)(c) and (d)—\nomit, insert—\n(c) if the application is for an amendment of the\napproval—state clearly the amendment\nsought and outline the reasons for the\napplication.\n(2) Section 351(6)—\nomit, insert—\n(6) If the Regulator decides not to amend or cancel\nthe approval as sought by the applicant, the\nRegulator must give the applicant an information\nnotice for the decision.\n94 Amendment of s 358 (Restriction on grant of work diary\nexemption (notice))\nSection 358(1)(b)(ii), after ‘fatigue’—\ninsert—\nor unfit to drive\n95 Replacement of ss 363–374\nSections 363 to 374—\nomit, insert—\n363 Work diary exemption (permits)\nThe Regulator may, by giving a person a work\ndiary exemption (permit), exempt a driver of a\nfatigue-regulated heavy vehicle from the\nrequirement to comply with Subdivisions 1 to 5 of\nDivision 2 for a stated period.\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\nClause 15\n16\n17\n18\n19\nClause 20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n\n[s 96]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 43\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nNote—\nSee section 730A for regulation-making powers in\nrelation to work diary exemption (permits).\n96 Omission of s 377 (Keeping permit or copy while\noperating under work diary exemption (permit))\nSection 377—\nomit.\n97 Replacement of ss 383–393\nSections 383 to 393—\nomit, insert—\n383 Fatigue record keeping exemption (permits)\nThe Regulator may, by giving a person a fatigue\nrecord keeping exemption (permit), exempt a\nrecord keeper for 1 or more drivers of a\nfatigue-regulated heavy vehicle from the\nrequirement to comply with all or stated\nprovisions of Division 3 for a stated period.\nNote—\nSee section 730A for regulation-making powers in\nrelation to fatigue record keeping exemption (permits).\n98 Amendment of s 456 (Purpose of Ch 8)\nSection 456, after ‘implement’—\ninsert—\nsafety\n99 Replacement of s 457 (Definitions for Ch 8)\nSection 457—\nomit, insert—\n1\n2\n3\nClause 4\n5\n6\n7\nClause 8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\nClause 21\n22\n23\n24\nClause 25\n26\n27\n\n[s 100]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 44\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n457 Requirements for heavy vehicle operations\nthat may be subject to alternative compliance\naccreditation\nThe national regulations may prescribe a\nrequirement under this Law in relation to heavy\nvehicle operations in relation to which an\nalternative compliance accreditation may be\ngranted (a prescribed operations requirement).\nExample of heavy vehicle operations—\nrequirements for mass under Part 4.2 or requirements\nfor driver fatigue under Part 6.3\n457A Safety management systems for operators of\nheavy vehicles\n(1) In this Law, a safety management system, for an\noperator of a heavy vehicle, is a group of policies,\nsystems and procedures relating to the safety of\nthe operator’s transport activities and the driving\nof heavy vehicles.\n(2) A safety management system must—\n(a) identify public risks associated with the\noperator’s transport activities and the\ndriving of heavy vehicles; and\n(b) assess the identified public risks; and\n(c) specify the controls to manage and mitigate\nthe identified public risks.\n(3) A safety management system must comply with\nthe safety management system standard,\nincluding by addressing any matters required to\nbe addressed by the safety management system\nstandard.\n100 Amendment of s 458 (Regulator’s power to grant heavy\nvehicle accreditation)\n(1) Section 458, before ‘The’—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\nClause 31\n32\n33\n\n[s 101]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 45\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\ninsert—\n(1)\n(2) Section 458—\ninsert—\n(2) The Regulator must not grant alternative\ncompliance accreditation to an operator unless the\noperator also holds general safety accreditation.\n101 Amendment of s 459 (Application for heavy vehicle\naccreditation)\nSection 459(2)(b)(i) to (iii)—\nomit, insert—\n(i) a statement by the applicant that the\napplicant has a safety management system\nthat complies with the safety management\nsystem standard;\n(ii) a statement by an approved auditor that the\nauditor considers the applicant’s safety\nmanagement system complies with the\nsafety management system standard;\n(iii) any other information required for the\napplication under the safety management\nsystem standard;\n102 Replacement of s 461 (Restriction on grant of heavy\nvehicle accreditation)\nSection 461—\nomit, insert—\n461 Restriction on grant of heavy vehicle\naccreditation\n(1) The Regulator may grant an applicant heavy\nvehicle accreditation only if the Regulator is\nsatisfied—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\nClause 8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\nClause 23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n\n[s 102]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 46\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n(a) the applicant has a safety management\nsystem for the operations to be carried out\nunder the accreditation that complies with\nthe safety management system standard; and\n(b) the applicant is able to comply with this\nLaw, having regard to—\n(i) the information provided to the\nRegulator under this Part; and\n(ii) the matters to which the Regulator may\nor must have regard under this section;\nand\n(c) the applicant is a suitable person to be\ngranted the accreditation, having regard\nto—\n(i) the information provided to the\nRegulator under this Part; and\n(ii) the matters to which the Regulator may\nor must have regard under this section.\n(2) In deciding an application for heavy vehicle\naccreditation, the Regulator must have regard to\nthe following—\n(a) the results of any audits of the applicant’s\nsafety management system carried out by an\napproved auditor in accordance with the\naudit standard;\n(b) any relevant body of fatigue knowledge.\n(3) In deciding an application for heavy vehicle\naccreditation, the Regulator must comply with\napproved guidelines for granting heavy vehicle\naccreditation.\n(4) In deciding an application for heavy vehicle\naccreditation, the Regulator may also have regard\nto other matters the Regulator considers relevant.\n(5) The Regulator may grant alternative compliance\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n34\n\n[s 102]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 47\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\naccreditation setting particular requirements\ndifferent to those sought by the applicant.\n(6) The Regulator must not grant alternative\ncompliance accreditation unless satisfied—\n(a) the alternative compliance accreditation—\n(i) is consistent with the relevant\nprescribed operations requirement; and\n(ii) complies with the requirements\nprescribed by the national regulations\nfor the purposes of the prescribed\noperations requirement in relation to\nwhich the alternative compliance\naccreditation is granted; and\n(b) granting alternative compliance\naccreditation will result in a standard of\nsafety that is at least equivalent to the\nstandard that would be achieved by\ncompliance with the relevant prescribed\noperations requirement.\n461A Restriction on grant of fatigue alternative\ncompliance accreditation\n(1) This section applies if the Regulator grants fatigue\nalternative compliance accreditation.\n(2) The Regulator must specify the alternative\ncompliance hours that apply to the driver of a\nfatigue-regulated heavy vehicle operating under\nthe fatigue alternative compliance accreditation.\n(3) The alternative compliance hours specified by the\nRegulator must comply with the standard for\nalternative compliance hours.\n(4) In specifying alternative compliance hours for a\nfatigue alternative compliance accreditation, the\nRegulator—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n\n[s 103]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 48\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n(a) must be satisfied the alternative compliance\nhours appear to provide a safe balance\nbetween work, rest, risk management and\nfatigue countermeasures; and\n(b) must not set alternative compliance hours\nthe Regulator considers would be unsafe,\nhaving regard to—\n(i) the applicant’s safety management\nsystem; and\n(ii) any relevant body of fatigue\nknowledge.\n103 Amendment of s 462 (Conditions of heavy vehicle\naccreditation)\n(1) Section 462(1), from ‘comply’ to ‘rules’—\nomit, insert—\nhave a safety management system that complies\nwith the safety management system standard\n(2) Section 462(2)(b), ‘relevant’—\nomit, insert—\nsafety\n(3) Section 462(2)(c), ‘effectively.’—\nomit, insert—\neffectively; and\n(4) Section 462(2)—\ninsert—\n(d) a condition requiring a label to be attached\nto a heavy vehicle operating under the\naccreditation.\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\nClause 12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"retrieval-0005","sectionType":"document_chunk","heading":"Document excerpt 5","content":"[s 104]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 49\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n104 Amendment of s 464 (Accreditation certificate for heavy\nvehicle accreditation etc.)\n(1) Section 464(2)(d)—\nomit, insert—\n(d) for a fatigue alternative compliance\naccreditation—the alternative compliance\nhours that apply under the accreditation;\n(2) Section 464(3), definition prescribed circumstances,\nparagraph (c)—\nomit, insert—\n(c) for a fatigue alternative compliance\naccreditation—granted alternative\ncompliance hours that are different to the\nalternative compliance hours sought by the\napplicant for the accreditation.\n105 Omission of s 466 (Accreditation labels for maintenance\nmanagement accreditation and mass management\naccreditation)\nSection 466—\nomit.\n106 Amendment of s 467 (Compliance with conditions of BFM\naccreditation or AFM accreditation)\n(1) Section 467, heading, ‘BFM accreditation or AFM\naccreditation’—\nomit, insert—\nheavy vehicle accreditation\n(2) Section 467, ‘BFM accreditation or AFM accreditation’—\nomit, insert—\nheavy vehicle accreditation\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\nClause 16\n17\n18\n19\n20\nClause 21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n\n[s 107]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 50\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n107 Amendment of s 468 (Driver operating under BFM\naccreditation or AFM accreditation must carry\naccreditation details)\n(1) Section 468, heading, ‘BFM accreditation or AFM\naccreditation’—\nomit, insert—\nheavy vehicle accreditation\n(2) Section 468(1), ‘BFM accreditation or AFM accreditation’\n(wherever appearing)—\nomit, insert—\nheavy vehicle accreditation\n(3) Section 468(1)(b)(ii), ‘relevant’—\nomit, insert—\nsafety\n(4) Section 468(1)(c) and example—\nomit, insert—\n(c) for a driver operating under an alternative\ncompliance accreditation—a document\ncontaining the information prescribed by the\nnational regulations.\n108 Omission of s 469 (Driver must return particular\ndocuments if stops operating under BFM accreditation or\nAFM accreditation etc.)\nSection 469—\nomit.\n109 Amendment of s 470 (General requirements applying to\noperator with heavy vehicle accreditation)\n(1) Section 470(2), from ‘If’ to ‘operator’—\nomit, insert—\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\nClause 21\n22\n23\n24\n25\nClause 26\n27\n28\n29\n\n[s 109]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 51\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nThe operator\n(2) Section 470(2)(a), ‘relevant’—\nomit, insert—\nsafety\n(3) Section 470(3)—\nomit, insert—\n(3) If the accreditation is a fatigue alternative\ncompliance accreditation, the operator must also\nensure each driver who operates under the\naccreditation is informed of the alternative\ncompliance hours applying under the\naccreditation.\nMaximum penalty—$6000.\n(4) Section 470(4)(b) and (c)—\nomit, insert—\n(b) records demonstrating the operator has\ncomplied with subsections (2) and (3); and\n(c) a current list of heavy vehicles to which the\noperator’s accreditation relates, if applicable\nto the accreditation; and\n(d) if the accreditation is an alternative\ncompliance accreditation—a current list of\ndrivers operating under the accreditation, if\napplicable to the accreditation.\n(5) Section 470(5)(b), ‘subsection (4)(b) or (c)’—\nomit, insert—\nsubsection (4)\n(6) Section 470(7)(a), ‘subsection (4)(b)(i) or (c)’—\nomit, insert—\nsubsection (4)(c) or (d)\n(7) Section 470(9)(a), ‘or 476’—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n\n[s 110]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 52\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nomit.\n(8) Section 470(9), note—\nomit.\n110 Amendment of s 471 (Operator must give notice of\namendment, suspension or ending of heavy vehicle\naccreditation)\n(1) Section 471(2), penalty, ‘$6000’—\nomit, insert—\n$10000\n(2) Section 471(3)—\nomit.\n111 Amendment of s 472 (Amendment or cancellation of\nheavy vehicle accreditation on application)\n(1) Section 472(2)(c) and (d)—\nomit, insert—\n(c) if the application is for an\namendment—state clearly the amendment\nsought and the reasons for the amendment.\n(2) Section 472(6)—\nomit, insert—\n(6) If the Regulator decides not to amend or cancel\nthe accreditation as sought by the applicant, the\nRegulator must give the applicant an information\nnotice for the decision.\n112 Amendment of s 473 (Amendment, suspension or\ncancellation of heavy vehicle accreditation on\nRegulator’s initiative)\nSection 473(1)(e) and (f)—\n1\n2\n3\nClause 4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\nClause 12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\nClause 25\n26\n27\n28\n\n[s 113]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 53\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nomit, insert—\n(e) the Regulator considers it necessary to\nprevent or minimise a public risk;\n113 Amendment of s 474 (Immediate suspension of heavy\nvehicle accreditation)\nSection 474(1)(b), ‘serious harm to public safety’—\nomit, insert—\na serious public risk\n114 Omission of ss 476 and 477\nSections 476 and 477—\nomit.\n115 Amendment of s 478 (Offences relating to auditors)\n(1) Section 478(1), (2), (3) and (4), penalty, ‘$10000’—\nomit, insert—\n$20000\n(2) Section 478(2), after ‘class’—\ninsert—\n, as specified in the audit standard\n(3) Section 478(3) and (4), ‘relevant’—\nomit, insert—\nsafety\n(4) Section 478(5)—\nomit.\n116 Insertion of new s 512A\nAfter section 512—\n1\n2\n3\nClause 4\n5\n6\n7\n8\nClause 9\n10\n11\nClause 12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\nClause 24\n25\n\n[s 117]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 54\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\ninsert—\n512A Definition for Pt 9.3\nIn this Part—\nfit, to drive a heavy vehicle, or to start or stop its\nengine, for a person, means the person—\n(a) is apparently physically and mentally fit to\ndrive the vehicle, or start or stop its engine;\nand\n(b) is not apparently affected by either or both\nof the following—\n(i) alcohol;\n(ii) a drug that affects a person’s ability to\ndrive a vehicle; and\n(c) is not found to have an alcohol\nconcentration in the person’s blood or breath\nexceeding the amount permitted, under an\nAustralian road law of this jurisdiction, for\nthe driver of a heavy vehicle; and\n(d) is not found to be under the influence of a\ndrug or to have present in the person’s blood\nor saliva a drug that the driver of a heavy\nvehicle is not permitted to have present in\nthe driver’s blood or saliva under an\nAustralian road law of this jurisdiction.\n117 Amendment of s 517 (Direction to move heavy vehicle if\ncausing harm etc.)\nSection 517(4), penalty, ‘$6000’—\nomit, insert—\n$10000\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\nClause 25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n\n[s 118]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 55\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n118 Amendment of s 522 (Power to order presentation of\nheavy vehicles for inspection)\nSection 522(5), penalty, ‘$6000’—\nomit, insert—\n$10000\n119 Amendment of s 524 (Direction to leave heavy vehicle)\nSection 524(5), penalty, ‘$6000’—\nomit, insert—\n$10000\n120 Replacement of Pt 9.3, Div 8, hdg (Further powers in\nrelation to fatigue-regulated heavy vehicles)\nPart 9.3, Division 8, heading—\nomit, insert—\nDivision 8 Further powers in relation\nto work and rest\narrangements\n121 Amendment of s 537 (Application of Div 8)\nSection 537, ‘fatigue-regulated’—\nomit.\n122 Amendment of s 540 (Requiring driver to stop working if\nimpaired by fatigue)\n(1) Section 540, heading, after ‘fatigue’—\ninsert—\nor unfit to drive\n(2) Section 540(1), from ‘fatigue-regulated’ to ‘fatigue’—\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\n5\nClause 6\n7\n8\n9\nClause 10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\nClause 17\n18\n19\nClause 20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n\n[s 123]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 56\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nomit, insert—\nheavy vehicle is impaired by fatigue or unfit to\ndrive\n(3) Section 540(2)(b) and (5), ‘fatigue-regulated’ (wherever\nappearing)—\nomit.\n(4) Section 540(4), after ‘subsection (2)(a)’—\ninsert—\nin relation to a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle\n(5) Section 540(6), after ‘fatigue’—\ninsert—\nor unfit to drive\n123 Amendment of s 573 (Contravention of improvement\nnotice)\n(1) Section 573(1), penalty, ‘$10000’—\nomit, insert—\n$20000\n(2) Section 573(3)—\nomit.\n124 Amendment of s 576C (Compliance with prohibition\nnotice)\nSection 576C, penalty, ‘$10000’—\nomit, insert—\n$20000\n125 Amendment of s 590 (Formal warning)\n(1) Section 590(1)(b)—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\nClause 13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\nClause 20\n21\n22\n23\n24\nClause 25\n26\n\n[s 126]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 57\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nomit.\n(2) Section 590(3)(b), ‘breach.’—\nomit, insert—\nbreach; or\n(3) Section 590(3)—\ninsert—\n(c) a contravention of the safety duty imposed\nunder section 26C.\n126 Amendment of s 632A (Using code of practice in\nproceeding)\nSection 632A(2), ‘registered industry code of practice’—\nomit, insert—\ncode of practice issued by the Regulator under\nsection 705\n127 Insertion of new s 632B\nAfter section 632A—\ninsert—\n632B Use of audit of safety management system in\nproceeding\nAn audit of an operator’s safety management\nsystem carried out by an approved auditor in\naccordance with the audit standard is admissible\nin proceedings for an offence against section\n26D(1A), 26F, 26G or 26H.\n128 Amendment of s 636 (Liability of executive officers of\ncorporation)\nSection 636(1), after ‘Schedule 4’—\ninsert—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\nClause 9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\nClause 15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\nClause 25\n26\n27\n28\n\n[s 129]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 58\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n, or a prescribed offence against a provision of the\nnational regulations made under section 88,\n129 Amendment of s 637 (Treatment of unincorporated\npartnerships)\nSection 637(4), ‘schedule 4’—\nomit, insert—\nSchedule 4, or a prescribed offence against a\nprovision of the national regulations made under\nsection 88,\n130 Amendment of s 638 (Treatment of other unincorporated\nbodies)\nSection 638(4), after ‘Schedule 4’—\ninsert—\n, or a prescribed offence against a provision of the\nnational regulations made under section 88,\n131 Insertion of new Pt 12.1, Div 1, hdg\nBefore section 651—\ninsert—\nDivision 1 Directions to Regulator\n132 Replacement of s 651 (Policy directions)\nSection 651—\nomit, insert—\n651 Policy directions\n(1) The responsible Ministers may give directions to\nthe Regulator about the policies to be applied by\nthe Regulator in exercising its functions under this\nLaw.\n1\n2\nClause 3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\nClause 10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\nClause 16\n17\n18\n19\nClause 20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n\n[s 132]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 59\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n(2) A direction under this section can not be about—\n(a) a particular person; or\n(b) a particular heavy vehicle; or\n(c) a particular application or proceeding.\n651A Directions to prevent or minimise serious\npublic risk\n(1) The responsible Ministers may give a direction to\nthe Regulator requiring the Regulator to take or\nnot to take particular action in relation to a serious\npublic risk.\n(2) A responsible Minister for a participating\njurisdiction may give a direction to the Regulator\nunder subsection (1) in relation to that\njurisdiction.\n(3) A direction may be given only if the responsible\nMinisters or Minister, as the case requires, is\nsatisfied the direction is necessary to prevent or\nminimise a serious public risk.\n(4) A direction under this section can not be about—\n(a) a particular person; or\n(b) a particular heavy vehicle; or\n(c) a particular application or proceeding.\n651B Directions in relation to alternative\ncompliance accreditation\n(1) The responsible Ministers may give a direction to\nthe Regulator requiring the Regulator to take or\nnot to take particular action in relation to\nalternative compliance accreditation.\n(2) A direction may be given only if the responsible\nMinisters are satisfied the direction is necessary to\nprevent or minimise a serious public risk.\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n\n[s 133]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 60\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n651C Directions to investigate or provide advice or\ninformation\n(1) The responsible Ministers may give a direction to\nthe Regulator requiring the Regulator to\ninvestigate, or provide advice or information\nabout, any matter relating to a public risk.\n(2) A responsible Minister for a participating\njurisdiction may give a direction to the Regulator\nunder subsection (1) in relation to that\njurisdiction.\n(3) A direction under this section can not—\n(a) direct the Regulator as to how to conduct an\ninvestigation; or\n(b) direct the Regulator as to which persons the\nRegulator may request or direct to provide\nassistance; or\n(c) be about the outcome of an investigation; or\n(d) direct the Regulator to stop an investigation.\n651D General provisions about directions\n(1) The Regulator must comply with a direction given\nto the Regulator under this Division.\n(2) The Regulator must publish a copy of a direction\non the Regulator’s website.\n(3) The Regulator’s annual report must include—\n(a) a copy of a direction; and\n(b) the action taken by the Regulator to comply\nwith the direction.\n133 Insertion of new Pt 12.1, Div 2, hdg\nBefore section 652—\ninsert—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\nClause 28\n29\n30\n\n[s 134]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 61\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nDivision 2 Other provisions\n134 Amendment of s 653 (Approved guidelines for\nexemptions, authorisations, permits and other\nauthorities)\n(1) Section 653, heading, ‘authorities’—\nomit, insert—\nmatters\n(2) Section 653(1)(l)(iv) and (v)—\nomit, insert—\n(iv) section 174(1)(b).\n(3) Section 653, after subsection (1)—\ninsert—\n(1A) The responsible Ministers must not approve\nguidelines unless satisfied the following have\nbeen consulted about the guidelines—\n(a) the Regulator;\n(b) any other persons the responsible Ministers\nconsider relevant.\n135 Amendment of s 654 (Other approvals)\nSection 654(1)—\nomit, insert—\n(1) The responsible Ministers may approve the\nfollowing—\n(a) a standard for the carrying out of audits of\nan operator’s safety management system by\napproved auditors for the purposes of heavy\nvehicle accreditation;\n1\nClause 2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\nClause 19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n\n[s 136]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 62\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n(b) a standard with which an operator’s safety\nmanagement system must comply for the\npurposes of heavy vehicle accreditation;\n(c) a standard for alternative compliance hours\nfor the purposes of fatigue alternative\ncompliance accreditation.\nNote—\nSection 461A(3) requires the alternative compliance\nhours specified by the Regulator to comply with the\nstandard for alternative compliance hours.\n(1A) The standard approved under subsection (1)(a)\nmust—\n(a) address the following—\n(i) the purpose of audits;\n(ii) how and when audits will be carried\nout;\n(iii) the auditors who may carry out audits;\n(iv) oversight of audits; and\n(b) be prepared by the Regulator.\n(1B) Before submitting the standard referred to in\nsubsection (1)(a) to the responsible Ministers for\napproval, the Regulator must consult with persons\nthe Regulator considers relevant.\n136 Insertion of new s 659A\nAfter section 659—\ninsert—\n659A Responsible Ministers may issue statement\nof expectations\n(1) The responsible Ministers may issue a written\nstatement (a statement of expectations) to the\nRegulator stating the expectations of the\nresponsible Ministers in relation to the exercise of\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\nClause 24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n\n[s 137]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 63\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nthe Regulator’s functions.\n(2) The Regulator must exercise its functions in\naccordance with any statement of expectations.\n137 Amendment of s 663 (Membership of Board)\n(1) Section 663(1), ‘5 members’—\nomit, insert—\nat least 5, but no more than 7, members\n(2) Section 663(2)—\nomit, insert—\n(2) The Board must consist of members with\nexpertise, experience and skills the responsible\nMinisters consider appropriate.\n(2A) The responsible Ministers may recommend a\nperson for appointment as a member of the Board\nonly if satisfied there is no material conflict of\ninterest between the person’s employment or\nother activities and the functions of the Board.\nExamples of a material conflict of interest between a\nperson’s employment or other activities and the functions\nof the Board—\n• the person’s role as an employee of a corporation\ninvolved in transport activities\n• the person’s role as an elected member or employee\nof a heavy vehicle industry body\n(3) Section 663, after subsection (3)—\ninsert—\n(4) In this section—\nemployment means any paid work and includes—\n(a) engagement under a contract for services,\nfor example, as a contractor or consultant;\nand\n1\n2\n3\nClause 4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"retrieval-0006","sectionType":"document_chunk","heading":"Document excerpt 6","content":"[s 138]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 64\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n(b) self-employment or conduct of a business as\na sole trader or as a partner in a partnership;\nand\n(c) holding office as an executive officer of a\ncorporation; and\n(d) holding office as an officer of an\nunincorporated body.\n138 Amendment of s 665 (Terms of office of members)\nSection 665(2)—\nomit, insert—\n(2) If otherwise qualified, a member of the Board is\neligible for reappointment but must not hold\noffice for—\n(a) more than 3 consecutive terms; or\n(b) a cumulative period of more than 10 years.\n139 Amendment of s 667 (Vacancy in office of member)\nSection 667(2)—\nomit, insert—\n(2) The Queensland Minister may remove a member\nof the Board from office if the responsible\nMinisters recommend the removal of the member\non the basis that—\n(a) the member has engaged in misconduct; or\n(b) the member has failed to or is unable to\nproperly exercise the member’s functions as\na member of the Board; or\n(c) the member has engaged in paid\nemployment without the approval of the\nresponsible Ministers; or\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\nClause 8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\nClause 16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n\n[s 140]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 65\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n(d) there is a material conflict of interest\nbetween the member’s employment or other\nactivities and the functions of the Board.\n140 Amendment of s 695 (Corporate plans)\n(1) Section 695(1), from ‘and’ to ‘the Ministers’—\nomit.\n(2) Section 695, after subsection (1)—\ninsert—\n(1A) The Regulator must, 30 days before the end of\neach financial year, give the corporate plan to the\nresponsible Ministers for approval by the\nMinisters.\n141 Amendment of s 696 (Application of particular\nQueensland Acts to this Law)\nSection 696(1)(b)—\nomit, insert—\n(b) the Public Records Act 2023 of Queensland;\n142 Amendment of s 701 (False or misleading statements)\n(1) Section 701(1), penalty, ‘$10000’—\nomit, insert—\n$20000\n(2) Section 701(2), penalty, ‘$8000’—\nomit, insert—\n$15000\n143 Amendment of s 702 (False or misleading documents)\n(1) Section 702(1), penalty, ‘$10000’—\n1\n2\n3\nClause 4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\nClause 13\n14\n15\n16\n17\nClause 18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\nClause 25\n26\n\n[s 144]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 66\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nomit, insert—\n$20000\n(2) Section 702(3), penalty, ‘$8000’—\nomit, insert—\n$15000\n144 Amendment of s 703 (False or misleading information\ngiven by responsible person to another responsible\nperson)\n(1) Section 703(1), penalty, ‘$10000’—\nomit, insert—\n$20000\n(2) Section 703(2), penalty, ‘$8000’—\nomit, insert—\n$15000\n145 Amendment of s 704 (Offence to falsely represent that\nheavy vehicle authority is held etc.)\nSection 704(1), (2) and (3), penalty, ‘$10000’—\nomit, insert—\n$20000\n146 Replacement of Pt 13.2 (Industry codes of practice)\nPart 13.2—\nomit, insert—\nPart 13.2 Codes of practice\n705 Regulator may issue codes of practice\n(1) The Regulator may issue a code of practice that\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\nClause 6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\nClause 15\n16\n17\n18\n19\nClause 20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n\n[s 146]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 67\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nrelates to compliance with duties and obligations\nunder this Law for parties in the chain of\nresponsibility and drivers of heavy vehicles.\n(2) The Regulator may amend or revoke a code of\npractice.\n(3) The Regulator must not issue or amend a code of\npractice unless—\n(a) a draft code of practice or draft amendment\nhas been made publicly available for at least\n42 days; and\n(b) the Regulator has considered any\nsubmissions received during that period.\n(4) The Regulator must not revoke a code of practice\nunless—\n(a) notice of the intention to revoke the code of\npractice has been made publicly available\nfor at least 42 days; and\n(b) the Regulator has considered any\nsubmissions received during that period.\n(5) Subsection (3) does not apply to an amendment of\na code of practice that the Regulator considers\nminor.\n(6) Subsections (3) and (4) do not apply to an\namendment or revocation of a code of practice\nresulting from a direction from the responsible\nMinisters under section 706.\n(7) The Regulator must ensure a copy of each code of\npractice, as in force from time to time, is\npublished on the Regulator’s website.\n(8) The Regulator incurs no liability for loss or\ndamage suffered by a person because the person\nrelied on a code of practice issued by the\nRegulator under this section.\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n\n[s 147]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 68\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n706 Responsible Ministers may give directions\nrelating to codes of practice\n(1) The responsible Ministers may direct the\nRegulator to amend or revoke a code of practice\nissued by the Regulator under section 705.\n(2) The responsible Ministers may give a direction\nunder subsection (1) only if satisfied the\namendment or revocation is necessary to ensure\nthe code of practice is not—\n(a) unreasonable or impractical; or\n(b) inconsistent with the purpose or object of\nthis Law.\n(3) The Regulator must comply with a direction given\nto the Regulator by the responsible Ministers\nunder subsection (1).\n(4) The Regulator must publish a copy of the\ndirection on the Regulator’s website.\n(5) The Regulator’s annual report must include—\n(a) a copy of any directions given to the\nRegulator in the year to which the report\nrelates; and\n(b) the action taken by the Regulator to comply\nwith the directions.\n147 Amendment of s 711 (Evidence by certificate by\nRegulator generally)\nSection 711(1)(n)—\nomit.\n148 Amendment of s 727 (Definitions for Pt 13.4)\nSection 727(1), definition driver fatigue provision, paragraph\n(b), ‘BFM accreditation or AFM accreditation’—\nomit, insert—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\nClause 24\n25\n26\n27\nClause 28\n29\n30\n31\n\n[s 149]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 69\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nfatigue alternative compliance accreditation\n149 Insertion of new s 730A\nAfter section 730—\ninsert—\n730A National regulations about exemption and\nauthorisation (permits)\n(1) This section applies to the following—\n(a) a class 2 heavy vehicle authorisation\n(permit);\n(b) a fatigue record keeping exemption\n(permit);\n(c) a mass or dimension exemption (permit);\n(d) a vehicle standards exemption (permit);\n(e) a work and rest hours exemption (permit);\n(f) a work diary exemption (permit).\n(2) Without limiting any other provision of this Law,\nthe national regulations may provide for the\nfollowing in relation to a permit to which this\nsection applies—\n(a) applications for a permit, including making\nand determining an application;\n(b) the maximum period for which a permit\nmay be granted;\n(c) the fees payable, if any, for a permit;\n(d) the grounds on which a permit must or may\nbe granted;\n(e) the imposition by the Regulator of\nconditions on a permit;\n(f) the form of a permit;\n1\nClause 2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n\n[s 150]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 70\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n(g) the amendment, suspension and cancellation\nof a permit, including by the permit holder\nand the Regulator;\n(h) requirements to keep a copy of a permit;\n(i) other matters relating to permits.\n150 Omission of s 751 (Expiry of industry codes of practice)\nSection 751—\nomit.\n151 Insertion of new Pt 14.5\nAfter Part 14.4—\ninsert—\nPart 14.5 Heavy Vehicle National\nLaw Amendment Act\n2025 (Queensland)\n760 Definition for Pt 14.5\nIn this Part—\namendment Act means the Heavy Vehicle\nNational Law Amendment Act 2025\n(Queensland).\n761 Existing heavy vehicle accreditation\n(1) An amendment made by the amendment Act does\nnot apply in relation to a heavy vehicle\naccreditation in force immediately before the\ncommencement of the amendment (an existing\nheavy vehicle accreditation).\n(2) This Law, as in force immediately before the\ncommencement of the amendment Act, continues\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\nClause 6\n7\n8\nClause 9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n\n[s 152]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 71\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nto apply in relation to an existing heavy vehicle\naccreditation until the accreditation expires or is\ncancelled.\n762 National Heavy Vehicle Regulator Board\nSection 663(2A), as inserted by the amendment\nAct, does not apply to a person who, on the\ncommencement of the amendment Act, is a\nmember of the Board.\n152 Amendment of Sch 2 (Subject matter for conditions of\nmass or dimension authorities)\nSchedule 2, authorising provision, ‘sections 119, 125 and\n146’—\nomit, insert—\nsection 119\n153 Amendment of Sch 3 (Reviewable decisions)\n(1) Schedule 3, Part 1—\nomit the following entries—\nsection 68 decision of Regulator to grant a vehicle standards\nexemption (permit) for a period less than the\nperiod of not more than 3 years sought by the\napplicant\nsection 71 decision of Regulator to impose on a vehicle\nstandards exemption (permit) a condition not\nsought by the applicant\nsection 75 decision of Regulator not to make a decision\nsought in an application for amendment or\ncancellation of a vehicle standards exemption\n(permit)\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\nClause 9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\nClause 15\n16\n17\n\n[s 153]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 72\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nsection 76 decision of Regulator to amend or cancel a\nvehicle standards exemption (permit)\nsection 77 decision of the Regulator to immediately suspend\na vehicle standards exemption (permit)\nsection 80 decision of Regulator not to give a replacement\npermit for a vehicle standards exemption (permit)\nsection 122 decision of Regulator to grant a mass or\ndimension exemption (permit) for a period less\nthan the period of not more than 3 years sought by\nthe applicant\nsection 125 decision of Regulator to impose on a mass or\ndimension exemption (permit) a condition not\nsought by the applicant and not a road condition\nor travel conditions required by a relevant road\nmanager for the exemption\nsection 143 decision of Regulator to grant a class 2 heavy\nvehicle authorisation (permit) for a period less\nthan the period of not more than 3 years sought by\nthe applicant\nsection 146 decision of Regulator to impose on a class 2\nheavy vehicle authorisation (permit) a condition\nnot sought by the applicant and not a road\ncondition or travel condition required by a\nrelevant road manager for the authorisation\nsection 176 decision of Regulator not to make a decision\nsought in an application for amendment of a mass\nor dimension authority granted by giving a person\na permit\nsection 177 decision of Regulator to amend or cancel a mass\nor dimension authority granted by giving a person\na permit, other than at the request of a relevant\nroad manager\n\n[s 153]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 73\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nsection 179 decision of Regulator to immediately suspend a\nmass or dimension authority granted by giving a\nperson a permit\nsection 182 decision of Regulator not to give a replacement\npermit for a mass or dimension authority\nsection 273 decision of Regulator to grant a work and rest\nhours exemption (permit) for a period less than\nthe period of not more than 3 years sought by the\napplicant\nsection 276 decision of Regulator to impose on a work and\nrest hours exemption (permit) a condition not\nsought by the applicant\nsection 280 decision of Regulator not to make a decision\nsought in an application for the amendment or\ncancellation of a work and rest hours exemption\n(permit)\nsection 281 decision of Regulator to amend or cancel a work\nand rest hours exemption (permit)\nsection 282 decision of Regulator to immediately suspend a\nwork and rest hours exemption (permit)\nsection 285 decision of Regulator not to give a replacement\npermit for a work and rest hours exemption\n(permit)\nsection 363 decision of Regulator to grant a work diary\nexemption (permit) for a period less than the\nperiod of not more than 3 years sought by the\napplicant\nsection 366 decision of Regulator to impose on a work diary\nexemption (permit) a condition not sought by the\napplicant\nsection 370 decision of Regulator not to make a decision\nsought in an application for the amendment or\ncancellation of a work exemption (permit)\n\n[s 153]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 74\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nsection 371 decision of Regulator to amend or cancel a work\ndiary exemption (permit)\nsection 374 decision of Regulator not to give a replacement\npermit for work diary exemption (permit)\nsection 383 decision of Regulator to grant a fatigue record\nkeeping exemption (permit) in a way that does not\ncover all the drivers sought by the applicant\nsection 383 decision of Regulator to grant a fatigue record\nkeeping exemption (permit) setting conditions\ndifferent from those sought by the applicant\nsection 385 decision of Regulator to impose a condition on a\nfatigue record keeping exemption (permit)\nsection 387 decision of Regulator to give a fatigue record\nkeeping exemption (permit) for a period less than\nthe period of not more than 3 years sought by the\napplicant\nsection 388 decision of Regulator not to grant a fatigue record\nkeeping exemption (permit)\nsection 389 decision of Regulator not to make a decision\nsought in an application for amendment or\ncancellation of a fatigue record keeping\nexemption (permit)\nsection 390 decision of Regulator to amend or cancel a fatigue\nrecord keeping exemption (permit)\nsection 393 decision of Regulator not to give a replacement\nfatigue record keeping exemption permit\nsection 458 decision of Regulator to grant an AFM\naccreditation setting maximum work times and\nminimum rest times different to the maximum\nwork times and minimum rest times sought by the\napplicant\n\n[s 154]\nHeavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Heavy Vehicle National Law\nPage 75\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n(2) Schedule 3, Part 1—\ninsert—\n(3) Schedule 3, Part 3, table, entry for section 178—\nomit.\n154 Amendment of Sch 4 (Liability provisions)\n(1) Schedule 4, table, entry for sections 79, 85, 87A, 181, 284,\n373 and 476—\nomit.\n(2) Schedule 4, table, in appropriate order—\ninsert—\nsection 477 decision of Regulator not to give a replacement\naccreditation certificate\nsection 383 decision of Regulator not to grant a fatigue record\nkeeping exemption (permit)\nsection 458 decision of Regulator to grant an alternative\ncompliance accreditation setting particular\nrequirements different to those sought by the\napplicant\n18 18(1), 18(2)\n22 22(1)\n© State of Queensland 2025\n1\n2\n3\n4\nClause 5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10","sortOrder":5}],"analysis":{"summary":{"status_summary":"The Heavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025 has received royal assent and will commence on a day to be fixed by proclamation.","complexity_score":9,"likely_questions":["How does the new 'alternative compliance accreditation' differ from the old BFM and AFM accreditations?","What is the standard for safety management systems that operators must now have?","When will the Act commence, and what happens to my existing accreditation in the meantime?","Do drivers still need to carry paper permits and work diaries after these changes?","What are the new maximum penalties for fatigue-related offences and false documentation?"],"complexity_factors":["Over 150 separate amendment clauses affecting multiple parts of the Heavy Vehicle National Law","Complete replacement of the accreditation structure (BFM, AFM, maintenance, mass) with a new two-tier model","Introduction of new concepts like 'safety management system', 'audit standard', and 'alternative compliance hours'","Extensive redefinition of key terms, including 'fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle', 'fit to drive', and many definitions related to fatigue","Changes to dozens of penalty amounts across different offence provisions","New ministerial direction powers and regulator powers for codes of practice","Transitional provisions that preserve old accreditations but require careful reading for operators"],"plain_english_summary":"The Heavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Act 2025 overhauls heavy‑vehicle accreditation into a two‑tier model (general safety plus alternative compliance) tied to mandatory safety management systems and approved audits. It broadens fatigue rules to cover being “unfit to drive,” cuts some on‑road paperwork for drivers, sharply raises many penalties, and expands ministerial directions and regulator powers. The changes mainly affect heavy‑vehicle operators, drivers and the regulator by shifting to an SMS‑based compliance regime and strengthening enforcement."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":9,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Yes. The Bill broadens the HVNL beyond primarily prescriptive fatigue, mass and dimension controls into a governance- and accreditation-led regime. It introduces (a) a formal safety management and audited-accreditation model as a primary compliance route (ss457A, 459–462), (b) a comprehensive permits/regulation head-power for multiple permit classes (s730A), and (c) stronger ministerial direction and oversight (ss651–651D; s659A). These changes shift substantive regulatory focus from detailed prescriptive rules (individual hours frameworks and multiple accreditation types) to performance-based accreditation, delegated standards and regulator discretion. Mechanically, that increases the law’s scope to regulate organisational governance, auditor standards, and to use ministerial directions as a policy lever — areas that sit beyond the traditional technical vehicle/fatigue rules found in the original HVNL."},"complexity_factors":["Large-scale rewriting: dozens of sections omitted, replaced or newly inserted across Parts 2–14 (more than 150 discrete amendments across the Bill).","Many new defined terms and wholesale removal of existing technical definitions (extensive changes in s5 and s221).","Introduction of a new accreditation framework (general safety vs alternative compliance) with linked sub-systems: audits, approved auditors, audit standards and safety management systems (ss457A, 458, 459, 461, 654).","New cross-cutting permit/regulation head-power (s730A) covering at least six permit types (vehicle standards, mass/dimension, class 2 authorisations, work/rest hours, work diary, fatigue record keeping).","Extensive cross-references and delegation to national regulations and approved standards (many sections now rely on national regulations for definitions, procedures and detail).","Significant penalty increases and redistribution of offences across Parts (multiple changes to penalties in record-keeping, false documents, tampering, and permit offences).","New ministerial direction and oversight regime with publication and reporting obligations (ss651–651D; s659A), adding an administrative/governance layer that interacts with operational rules.","Replacement and renaming of fatigue rules, moving from prescriptive hours (BFM/AFM) to alternative compliance hours — requires reworking many related record-keeping and enforcement provisions (s253–254, Pt 6.3 and Pt 6.4 changes).","Addition of admissibility of audits in prosecutions (s632B) and strengthened executive due‑diligence duties (s26D(1A)) — increasing litigation linkages between compliance artefacts and liability.","Transitional and savings provisions for existing accreditations and Board members (Pt 14.5), plus changes to reviewable decisions and liability schedules (Sch 3 and Sch 4) increasing procedural complexity."],"plain_english_summary":"**What this Bill changes (mechanically)\n\n- Replaces and reorganises large parts of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL). Key structural changes include:\n  - Replacing multiple fatigue frameworks (BFM/AFM) with a single \"alternative compliance\" approach and renaming accreditations as either \"general safety accreditation\" or \"alternative compliance accreditation\" (see new/changed definitions and accreditation rules (s5, s458, s461, s461A)).\n  - Introducing a formal safety management system requirement for operators and an audit standard and approved-auditor regime (s457A; s654; ss459–462). Operators must show an audited safety management system to get accreditation (s459(2)(b)(i)–(ii); s461).\n  - Creating or recasting a broad class of permits/exemptions (vehicle standards, mass/dimension, class 2 authorisations, work/rest hours, work diary and fatigue record-keeping) and giving the national regulations express power to regulate how those permits work (new permit definitions and the new regulation-making head of power at s730A; replacement permit provisions such as ss68, 122, 143, 273, 363, 383).\n  - Reframing fatigue offences and duties to cover both \"impaired by fatigue\" and being \"unfit to drive\" (new language and definitions in Ch 6: s4, s220–226, s228, s512A).\n  - Strengthening corporate and executive duties for safety where a safety duty exists (due diligence for executives in s26D(1A)).\n  - Increasing penalties across many record‑keeping, false‑document, tampering, and permit offences (multiple schedule amendments and specific sections e.g. s60, s81, s102, s186–187, s325–336, s573, s576C etc.).\n  - New procedural and oversight tooling: ministerial directions and statements of expectations for the Regulator (new Division at s651 and additions s651A–651D; s659A), new rules on codes of practice issued by the Regulator (new Part 13.2, ss705–706), and new admissibility for safety system audits in prosecutions (s632B).\n  - Transitional arrangements preserving existing accreditations until expiry and exemptions for current board members from the new appointment/conflict rule (Pt 14.5: ss760–762).\n\nWho is affected\n\n- Heavy vehicle operators and drivers: new accreditation requirements, altered work/rest frameworks, new and revised permit pathways (ss458, 253–254, 273, 363).\n- Employers, prime contractors, schedulers and operators in the chain of responsibility: higher documentary and safety-system obligations, heavier penalties for record keeping and related offences (s264; record-keeping provisions in Pt 6.4; many penalty increases).\n- Vehicle owners and modifiers: permits for vehicle standards and mass/dimension use and expanded regulation-making powers for vehicle modification and warning sign requirements (ss68, 122, 88, 92, 730A).\n- Executives of legal entities: explicit due-diligence duty to ensure organisational safety duties are met (s26D(1A)).\n- The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (Regulator) and its Board: expanded ministerial oversight, direction powers, new obligations on corporate planning and publication, and changes to Board composition and removal (ss651–651D; s659A; ss663–667; s695).\n- Approved auditors and audit regimes: creation of an \"approved auditor\" class and an audit standard (s5; s654).\n\nWhy it matters (claimed purpose and practical trade-offs)\n\n- Claimed purpose (from the text): bring fatigue law into an outcomes-focused framework that covers both fatigue impairment and general fitness to drive; make accreditation conditional on operator safety management systems and independent audits; provide flexible compliance routes (\"alternative compliance\") where safety outcomes are met; strengthen enforcement with higher penalties; and give ministers tools to direct the Regulator on serious public risk (see Chapter 6 amendments; ss457A, 461A; ss651–651D).\n\n- Practical trade-offs, incentives and implementation risks:\n  - Compliance costs and shifting economies of scale: operators must establish and maintain safety management systems and fund independent audits to obtain/retain accreditations (s457A; s459). That creates recurring costs (audit fees, record systems, possible label/record obligations s462(2)(d), s470(4)). Larger operators are more able to absorb those costs, which creates an incentive that may favour scale.\n  - Flexibility versus regulatory discretion: alternative compliance accreditation allows the Regulator to specify different work/rest hours and other accreditation conditions (s461(5)–(6); s461A). That gives flexibility to tailor arrangements but increases Regulator discretion and reliance on delegated standards/regulations (s654; s730A), so industry outcomes turn heavily on how the Regulator and Ministers exercise those powers.\n  - Enforcement intensity and deterrence: many penalties are raised (numerous sections listed in the Bill). Higher fines raise the expected cost of non‑compliance and increase the incentive for formal compliance controls (e.g., tighter recordkeeping, surveillance, and audits), but also raise financial risk exposure for operators and executives (s26D(1A); liability provisions amended in Sch 4).\n  - Administrative burden and rule-making dependence: the Bill frequently defers key details to national regulations and approved standards (see powers at s26, s730A, s654). That means the practical effect depends on subsequent instrument design (fees, permit periods, standards for alternative compliance hours, approved auditor classes). Implementation risk includes delays or variation in those subordinate instruments and coordination across jurisdictions.\n  - Concentrated benefits and diffuse costs: the alternative-compliance pathway may benefit operators who can justify an SMS and pass audits (concentrated). Costs (administration, higher compliance costs, potential insurance/premiums) are spread across many small operators and drivers (diffuse).\n  - Governance and political oversight: responsible Ministers get stronger formal powers to direct the Regulator (s651–651D) and to issue statements of expectations (s659A), plus the Regulator must publish directions and report on them. That increases political control and transparency about directions but also increases the potential for operational interference in how the Regulator applies technical standards.\n  - Evidence and prosecutions: an operator’s audited safety management system is admissible in prosecutions (s632B). That creates a direct legal link between audits and liability exposure, which incentivises careful audit design and may make audits a focal point for litigation.\n\nSummary: The Bill moves the HVNL from multiple prescriptive fatigue streams to a coherent, accreditation‑based, outcomes-focused structure: operators must run audited safety management systems to get accreditations; the Regulator gains wider permit-making and direction powers; penalties are generally increased; and much detail is pushed to national regulations and approved standards (s654; s730A). That increases flexibility and regulator discretion, raises compliance and audit costs for industry, and centralises certain governance levers with Ministers and the Regulator.\n\n(Sections cited in parentheses are those that introduce the major changes summarised above: definitions and accreditation framework (s5, s458, s461, s461A); SMS and audit requirements (s457A, s654, s459); permits and regulation head‑powers (s68, s122, s143, s273, s363, s383, s730A); executive duties (s26D(1A)); fatigue/fitness reframing (ss220–226, s228, s512A); ministerial directions and expectations (ss651–651D, s659A); admissibility of audits (s632B).)"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/heavy-vehicle-national-law-amendment-bill-2025","history":"/api/acts/heavy-vehicle-national-law-amendment-bill-2025/history","analysis":"/api/acts/heavy-vehicle-national-law-amendment-bill-2025/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/heavy-vehicle-national-law-amendment-bill-2025/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/heavy-vehicle-national-law-amendment-bill-2025/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/heavy-vehicle-national-law-amendment-bill-2025/documents"}}