Dear Mrs Mugridge,

Thank you for your correspondence to the former Minister for Transport about Heavy Vehicle licensing. Your correspondence was referred to me as it falls within my portfolio responsibilities as Minister for Roads. I apologise for the delay in responding.

I offer my sincere condolences on the loss of your husband in such tragic circumstances and appreciate your efforts to ensure all drivers go home safely.

NSW is participating in significant reviews of heavy vehicle driver licensing and other heavy vehicle regulation. This includes the safety standards of overseas heavy vehicle drivers.

I am advised that Austroads recently conducted a survey into the use of overseas drivers in the heavy vehicle industry. Industry representatives raised concerns about the capabilities of overseas drivers operating in Australia, especially when driving under conditions radically different to those in their home countries.

Transport for NSW is actively participating in an Austroads project to review overseas driver licence policy and address how overseas-issued driver licences, especially those which permit the holder to drive a heavy vehicle, are treated.

I note that further work is being undertaken to develop improvements.

Transport for NSW has noted the measures recently introduced by the Parliament of South Australia and the changes that have been made to the heavy vehicle training and assessment regime.

Transport for NSW will continue to take an interest in the safety outcomes of the South Australian reforms. However, as South Australia permits a wider range of multicombination vehicles on parts of its network than NSW, it is unlikely that the South Australian scheme could directly transfer to NSW.

52 Martin Place Sydney NSW 2000                             02 7225 6220

GPO Box 5341 Sydney NSW 2001                             nsw.gov.au/ministeraitchison                                    1

- 2 -

C-00000980

As you may be aware, Austroads is undertaking major work to refresh the National Heavy Vehicle Driver Competency Framework (the Framework) which NSW adopted in 2013. The framework will introduce more formal and specific theory and practical components as well as new options for drivers to upgrade their heavy vehicle licences. More information is available at https://austroads.gov.au/drivers-and-vehicles/registration-and-licensing/heavyvehicle-driver-competency-framework

Thank you for taking the time to write. I genuinely appreciate the effort you have made to raise this matter with the Government.

Sincerely,

The Hon Jenny Aitchison MP
Minister for Roads

Minister for Regional Transport

5/7/2025