Question Without Notice No. 212 asked in the Legislative Council on 29 March 2018 by Hon Colin De Grussa
Parliament: 40 Session: 1
HEAVY VEHICLE PILOT LICENCE EXEMPTIONS
212. Hon COLIN de GRUSSA to the minister representing the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the minister's answer given yesterday to question without notice 184.
(1) Aside from discussions with the Agricultural Vehicles Advisory Committee, what consultation with the agricultural sector was undertaken by Main Roads Western Australia, the department and/or the minister's office before the ''Heavy Vehicle Agricultural Pilot Authorisation 2017'' was applied?
(2) Regarding the minister's answer to part (2), what time frame has the department put on identifying classifications of agricultural machinery?
(3) Regarding the minister's answer to part (3), is the minister ruling out any relaxing of vehicle and equipment size parameters that are allowable under the exemption?
Hon STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
Again, I inform the house that the answers to those questions do not appear in my folder. If they come in by the end of question time, I will, of course, provide them to the member.
[The following material was incorporated; see page 1469.]
(1) Consultation was not required as the Agricultural Pilot Authorisation ensured continuation of the access already-available to the agricultural industry was maintained following the introduction of the legal requirement of the pilots to be licenced.
(2) Main Roads and Department of Transport have been working with WA Farmers on this issue and WA Farmers are currently surveying their members to confirm the type of agricultural machinery that needs to be considered. Once the survey results are in, Main Roads and Department of Transport will work with WA Farmers to expedite a solution. The date for completion is subject to the WA Farmers' survey results.
(3) Yes, due to the safety implications outlined in the answer to QWN 184. The Commissioner of Main Roads has a legal obligation for the safety of all road users on public roads.