Heavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025
Plain English Summary
Overview
This bill reforms the national law governing heavy vehicles (trucks and other vehicles over 4.5 tonnes) to improve road safety, simplify regulation, and update penalties. It introduces a new legal duty for all heavy vehicle drivers to be fit to drive, requires transport operators to have safety management systems, and rebalances penalties so serious offences attract higher fines while minor paperwork errors are treated more leniently.
Who it affects
Heavy vehicle drivers, transport operators, and other road users are most affected. Drivers face an expanded fitness-to-drive duty and higher penalties for serious breaches but lower fines for minor errors. Operators must implement safety management systems to maintain accreditation.
Key changes
- All heavy vehicle drivers (over 4.5 tonnes) must now be fit to drive, covering physical fitness, mental fitness, and not being affected by drugs or alcohol -- previously this duty only applied to drivers of vehicles over 12 tonnes
- Transport operators must implement a safety management system that identifies and manages public risks, verified by independent audit, to gain or maintain accreditation
- Penalties for serious offences like driving while unfit, false work records, and tampering with recording systems increase significantly (many doubling from $10,000 to $20,000), while fines for minor administrative errors like work diary mistakes are reduced
- The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator takes over responsibility for developing codes of practice from industry, with a mandatory 42-day public consultation period
- Improvement notices can now be issued at the same time as prosecutions, and courts can find a person guilty of a lesser primary duty offence if the original charge is not proven
Bill Story
The journey of this bill through Parliament, including debate and recorded votes.
▸Committee26 Aug 2025 – 30 Oct 2025View Hansard
Referred to State Development, Infrastructure and Works Committee
6 members · Chair: Jim McDonald
The State Development, Infrastructure and Works Committee examined the Heavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025 and recommended it be passed. The bill proposes a new heavy vehicle accreditation framework replacing the existing National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme modules with a general safety accreditation and an alternative compliance accreditation, designed to offer more flexibility while improving road safety.
Key findings (4)
- The bill introduces a new accreditation framework replacing the existing three-module system with a general safety accreditation and an alternative compliance accreditation
- Operators would be required to develop a safety management system identifying, assessing and managing risks associated with their transport activities
- The amendments are designed to reflect industry diversity and offer more flexibility while improving community safety
- The existing National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme covers mass management, maintenance management and fatigue management modules
Recommendations (1)
- The committee recommends that the Bill be passed.
▸Second Reading30 Oct 2025 – 18 Nov 2025View Hansard
▸32 members spoke31 support1 mixed
Spoke in support of the bill as implementing recommendations from the National Transport Commission to improve safety, reduce red tape and boost productivity in the heavy vehicle industry.
“The Crisafulli government is committed to delivering a government that works for you. That is why we welcome changes that can help reduce red tape and provide a simpler system to boost productivity and innovation, all without compromising safety.”— 2025-11-18View Hansard
As Minister for Transport, moved the second reading and outlined the bill's aims to reduce red tape, improve road safety and boost productivity through a risk-based, outcomes-focused regulatory approach.
“Truckies provide a critical service across Queensland and driving a heavy vehicle is already a difficult enough task without the need for onerous administration and unnecessary red tape.”— 2025-10-30View Hansard
Announced Labor would vote in favour of the reforms, recognising the crucial role heavy vehicle drivers play and welcoming safety improvements including the expanded duty to be fit to drive.
“When I look at the policy objectives of this bill, I am pleased that these reforms are clearly designed to make our communities safer. We will be voting in favour of these reforms.”— 2025-11-18View Hansard
Supported the bill as a committee member, noting the extensive prior national consultation and highlighting concerns raised at the Cairns hearing about heavy vehicle operations on the Mossman to Gordonvale route.
“The bill updates the Heavy Vehicle National Law Act 2012 to deliver reforms to the National Transport Commission's review of the Heavy Vehicle National Law endorsed by infrastructure and transport ministers.”— 2025-10-30View Hansard
Supported the bill, highlighting the importance of the heavy vehicle industry to the economy and supply chains, particularly for her Redlands electorate.
“The heavy vehicle industry is the backbone of Australia's supply chains. It moves the food on our shelves, the steel in our buildings, the fuel in our vehicles and the materials that underpin every home, school, hospital and piece of infrastructure we rely on.”— 2025-11-18View Hansard
As committee chair, supported the bill and praised the professionalism of the heavy vehicle industry, noting the committee held hearings in Brisbane and Cairns to understand operator concerns.
“The truck drivers of today are absolute professionals. Without trucks, Australia stops.”— 2025-10-30View Hansard
Spoke in support of the bill, acknowledging the regular updates needed to the heavy vehicle national law and Queensland's role as host jurisdiction.
“At the heart of this bill is updating the heavy vehicle regulatory framework, the Heavy Vehicle National Law.”— 2025-11-18View Hansard
Supported the bill as a former transport committee chair, summarising key provisions including mandatory safety management systems, fitness to drive duty, and simplified codes of practice.
“An SMS will include a risk assessment and an outline of how risks will be monitored and controlled. It might also include safety training, communication, performance monitoring and reporting, among other things, all to keep our truck drivers and other road users safe.”— 2025-10-30View Hansard
Supported the bill on behalf of his constituents in the Southern Downs, discussing the importance of the transport industry to his electorate.
“I rise to make my contribution on behalf of the people I serve in the Southern Downs on the Heavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2025.”— 2025-11-18View Hansard
Supported the bill as a committee member, detailing the enhanced accreditation framework, new fitness to drive duty, and expanded ministerial powers for governance and oversight.
“The primary objectives of these reforms are clear: to improve safety and productivity, reduce unnecessary regulatory red tape, enhance the functions of our regulatory bodies and streamline the administration of the law.”— 2025-10-30View Hansard
Supported the bill, highlighting the significance of heavy vehicle movements through the Port of Brisbane in her electorate, with five million truck movements annually.
“I have the Port of Brisbane in my electorate. The Port of Brisbane has five million truck movements annually.”— 2025-11-18View Hansard
Supported the bill as a committee member, emphasising the importance of making rules simpler for truck drivers and noting the critical role of freight transport in regional Queensland communities.
“Out there it is the rule book that determines how people like Matt do their jobs: how long they can drive; when they are required to rest; what records they have to keep; and who shoulders the blame when things go wrong.”— 2025-10-30View Hansard
Supported the bill, emphasising the importance of road safety to the people of Callide and the need for fit-for-purpose regulation of heavy vehicles.
“Road safety is incredibly important to the people of Callide. Unfortunately, I see far too many accidents across my region.”— 2025-11-18View Hansard
Supported the bill, drawing on his experience representing the most remote electorate in Queensland where encountering triple road trains on dirt roads is common, emphasising the need for balanced regulation.
“If for no other reason than the sheer volume of heavy vehicles on our roads, a balance must be achieved between public safety, transport efficiency and regulatory compliance.”— 2025-10-30View Hansard
Supported the bill, congratulating the minister for leading the legislation nationally and noting the committee's recommendation that the bill be passed.
“This bill is about something pretty simple: keeping our roads safe.”— 2025-11-18View Hansard
Supported the bill, emphasising federal Labor's leadership in driving the national reforms through the Infrastructure and Transport Ministers' Meetings and the National Transport Commission.
“The federal Labor government's leadership through the Infrastructure and Transport Ministers' Meetings and the National Transport Commission has been central to these current reforms.”— 2025-10-30View Hansard
Supported the bill, speaking to the need for reform of the heavy vehicle national law from a regional Queensland perspective.
“This Heavy Vehicle National Law reform has been a long time coming.”— 2025-11-18View Hansard
Supported the bill, citing road death statistics involving heavy vehicles and praising the minister's leadership in bringing the legislation forward.
“How refreshing it is to have a minister who displays visionary leadership and is across his brief. It is a real contrast to the conga line of failed former Labor ministers for transport and main roads.”— 2025-10-30View Hansard
Supported the bill, highlighting how the amendments will make the law simpler and more flexible by shifting prescriptive requirements into regulations.
“This bill will make the Heavy Vehicle National Law simpler and more flexible by shifting a range of prescriptive requirements into regulations.”— 2025-11-18View Hansard
Supported the bill, noting the more than 60,000 businesses and 200,000 people in the trucking sector, and calling for ongoing industry consultation rather than one-off engagement.
“Given the vast distances travelled between capital cities and the range of goods and services transported across the nation, there needs to be a universal approach to governance, regulation, compliance and enforcement.”— 2025-10-30View Hansard
Supported the bill, thanking the minister for Queensland leading the way on national heavy vehicle regulation.
“I want to thank the minister for bringing this bill to the House and for Queensland leading the way on national heavy vehicle regulation.”— 2025-11-18View Hansard
Supported the bill as delivering safer outcomes for every road user, highlighting the expanded fitness to drive duty and the protections for drivers who report being pressured to drive while unfit.
“No load, no deadline and no profit is worth a life. This bill makes that clear—safety must always come first.”— 2025-10-30View Hansard
Supported the bill, noting how concerns raised when the original heavy vehicle national law was introduced in 2012 are now being addressed.
“I remember when the original bill was first tabled in this House back in 2012. It was a very comprehensive bill but there were certain concerns and a lot of those concerns are addressed in the bill which is now before the House.”— 2025-11-18View Hansard
Supported the bill's safety management system requirements while criticising the Minister for Transport for failing to repair broken traffic lights on the Mount Lindesay Highway freight corridor in his electorate.
“There are mandates on accredited operators to undertake safety standards. It is a pity that there are not the same standards for the Minister for Transport and Main Roads when it comes to the Stoney Camp and Granger Road roundabouts.”— 2025-10-30View Hansard
Replied in support as the minister responsible, expressing pleasure at bipartisan support for the bill and clarifying key provisions around the duty to be fit to drive.
“I am pleased to see support for the bill from members across the House and recognition of the importance of improving road safety for all Queenslanders and productivity in the heavy vehicle industry.”— 2025-11-18View Hansard
Supported the bill as making the Heavy Vehicle National Law simpler and more flexible, emphasising the economic importance of the heavy vehicle industry and linking road safety to everyday road users.
“Without trucks, Australia stops—whether it is our food, our minerals, our packages or even our furniture.”— 2025-10-30View Hansard
Supported the bill, noting its relevance even for her inner-city electorate which has significant heavy industry, and highlighting the fatigue management and education provisions.
“It is important that we include and acknowledge that in every bill that we pass through parliament—education and awareness initiatives to make sure drivers are aware of the changes.”— 2025-10-30View Hansard
Supported the bill as a former truck driver, drawing on personal experience of handling heavy vehicles and emphasising the need for easy-to-understand safety guidelines and streamlined regulatory requirements.
“I know what it is like to sit behind the wheel of a prime mover or a small truck, so I know all too well the risks that come with handling a vehicle that has a lot of weight in it or on it.”— 2025-10-30View Hansard
Acknowledged the importance of the reforms but criticised NHVR enforcement practices in remote Queensland, arguing officers lack common sense when fining drivers for minor issues like cracked windscreens in areas with no repair facilities, and that excessive compliance is driving truck drivers out of the industry.
“They might have removed the red tape but now there is purple tape, green tape, yellow tape and all the other tape. It has not achieved its initial ambitions.”— 2025-10-30View Hansard
Supported the bill as representing the Mackay region where road transport is the lifeblood of the economy, from coalfields to cane farms and the Port of Mackay.
“From the coalfields of Moranbah and the cane farms of the Pioneer Valley to the fuel trucks that roll in and out of the Port of Mackay every day, heavy vehicles are what keep Queensland moving.”— 2025-10-30View Hansard
Supported the bill while arguing the reforms were originally driven by the federal Labor government in partnership with Queensland, claiming the LNP was simply catching up on work Labor had already started.
“Let's call it for what it is: the bill is a Labor policy delivered late by an LNP government that is more focused on headlines than on heavy vehicles.”— 2025-10-30View Hansard
Strongly supported the bill as transformative legislation for safer roads and smarter regulation, noting that 3,020 heavy vehicles pass through Rockhampton daily and heavy vehicles account for up to 50 per cent of traffic on some regional highways.
“In Rockhampton alone an average of 3,020 heavy vehicles pass through daily. On some of our regional highways, heavy vehicles account for up to 50 per cent of all of the traffic.”— 2025-10-30View Hansard
Assent date: 24 November 2025