From the desk of the Chief Executive – August 2021

The last couple of months have continued to be challenging, as the pandemic and lockdowns continue to be a fact of life. Currently, I am writing this from lockdown in Brisbane, and NSW is struggling with its numbers, with SA and Vic just out of lockdown.

The fact is, lockdowns have proven to be effective in the land of public opinion, which means they will be the first tool to be used until the vaccination rate climbs.

It is pleasing that we have hit 12m vaccinations today but we have a long way to go, and so I challenge us all to think about how we can continue to promote vaccinations among your friends, peers and colleagues. Recently, HVIA came up with the idea of simple Teams / Zoom Backgrounds to be used to promote vaccinations.

On the policy front, we continue to work with operator groups in calling for heavy vehicle operators to be considered an essential service, to ensure their testing results are prioritised and received in hours – not days – and on the back of operators getting severe nose bleeds, have supported the call for other forms of testing – for example the less intrusive rapid antigen testing for asymptomatic operators.

HVIA was pleased to see the generic tyre approach for PBS was recently approved by Ministers. We have also been monitoring the implementation of the RVSA and assisting with member enquiries as they arise.

HVIA is also commencing work on the ComVec 2022 agenda, and hope that we can put together an exciting, informative, thought-provoking line up that we see it becoming a must-attend event of 2022.

HVIA has also heard member feedback on the impact that a skills shortage is having for our members.

HVIA has commenced a project to identify and investigate a multifaceted solution. We hope to be able to shortly release some options and survey our members to ensure we are heading in the right direction.

HVIA has also opened up nominations for the HVIA National Awards. The awards are a great way to showcase the positive actions, initiatives, products, and systems which make our industry more innovative, productive and safe. I encourage all HVIA members to consider a nomination. It is super quick and easy but is important for the industry to demonstrate its proactivity to government, regulators and the broader community.

Administratively, HVIA has had a change of personnel as we say goodbye to Teagan Hadley, who supported Noelene in the National Events Team for the past 5 years. Teagan has secured a role with one of our members and we wish her well as she progresses with her career. I hope by the time the meetings come around to have some positive news to announce, on a replacement.

As always, I remain available to our members, and welcome your feedback, advice, information or contact.

Todd Hacking
Chief Executive

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When are the meetings?

State Committee meetings are advertised in the Event section of this website, in HVIA’s weekly newsletter Talk the Torque and notice is sent directly to registered member contacts.

The next round of State Committee meetings will be held during August 2021. Due to current lockdowns the NSW and VIC meetings will be combined and held online.

•  QLD – Tuesday 24 August | HVIA Office, Seventeen Mile Rocks
•  WA – Thursday 26 August | Metro Hotel, South Perth
•  NSW & VIC – Friday 27 August | Online via ClickMeeting

Get involved

Contact your HVIA membership representative or our Policy team to ensure you are receiving notification and access to agendas, minutes and other key documents.