Newsletters

Notice has been received from the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry that the Tasmanian Industrial Commission has approved the flow-on of the 2004 National Safety Net Review decision to Tasmanian Awards.

The effect of the decision is to increase adult weekly rates of pay by $19 per week.

This increase is fully absorbable against any over-award payment or enterprise bargaining increases.

· increased the minimum wage to $467.40 (where the award already specifies $448.40)

The operative date for the increase is effective from the first full pay period to commence on or after 1 August 2004

During the past two weeks many members have received interim Service contract offers from the department of passenger transport.

The association advises all members who may receive these contracts to not return the signed contract to the department until you have followed what is outlined below for members who have current contracts that are as of now not subject to GST

· In the event that the kilometers stated in the schedule are incorrect (which is highly likely)

please amend the information sent by the department by returning schedule 3 only

· Please check the map provided together with times and pickup points and return map with any changes required also at same time as schedule.

· The association recommends that you do not sign and return the Interim Service Contract until early 2005. The reason for the delay is due to the fact that upon signing of the contract it immediately becomes subject to GST and therefore you will have the current payment reduced by 2.5% before GST is added.

· The new Interim service contracts must be signed before the 26 June 2005 which is when the current transitional regulations expire and as from 1 July 2005 all contracts are subject to GST

· The Association will be holding regional meetings again early in third term to which we would encourage all operators to attend to receive the latest advice on this issue as by then the extension of the review period should have been regulated.

Members with either route service contracts or school transport contracts who have not signed Interim Service Contracts are advised to return the signed contract to the department as soon as possible as there are no GST implications with these contracts.

Successful regional meetings were held during July. Further regional meetings will be held early in third term to keep members informed on issues within the industry.

The association is currently drafting a survey form which will be posted to you late this month to seek your input as to the timing and day and location of future AGM/Conferences.

The association intends to conduct a further recognition of prior learning course in the last quarter of this year.

Operators who wish to enroll for assessment please contact the association office for further details.

The BIC National Conference is a key event for the Bus and Coach industry in Australia. It is a great opportunity for both operators and suppliers to meet and discuss as a group, the direction of the industry in Australia and how we best work together to achieve the long-term lobbying efforts of the Bus Industry Confederation and State based Associations.

It has been a long time between drinks since the last conference that was held in April 2003 in Queenstown, so we are expecting a great turn up from the Australian industry in Brisbane.

This year’s event is being run in parallel with the International Bus Conference and the Asia Pacific Congress organised by the UITP.

This year’s events will also include a major trade exhibition being run by the UITP. This will provide the opportunity for those who register for the BIC National Conference to view the latest technology, latest vehicles and other relevant componentry.

Early Bird registration concludes on 10 September so I encourage those delegates who usually attend, those who have never attended and those who are not members of a State Association to register now and take advantage of the cheaper registration prices and be a part of an Industry that is leading the way in regard to the passenger task and how we will “MOVE” people in the future.

If you have not received a delegate registration brochure please contact me via phone on 02 6247 5990 and we will send you one or alternatively go to the BIC Website at www.bic.asn.au where you can download the brochure and then fax it back to me.

As a word of explanation, as I have had a few inquiries, this is how the overall program for the joint event with the UITP will work.

The BIC National Conference program and the International Bus Conference program are a joint program which will run to the same format as previous BIC National Conference’s. Sunday night will begin with the Volvo Welcoming Cocktail Party. Monday through to Wednesday lunchtime will involve key plenary sessions. On the social side we will have the usual evening events sponsored by Mercedes, Scania and ABCUA and we will conclude as we did last year in Queenstown, at lunchtime Wednesday with a major off-site event being sponsored by BusTech on the Gold Coast.

For those who are interested in participating in the Asia Pacific Congress the delegate registration material also provides you the opportunity to register and participate in this event.

The big benefit of this years Conference is that we have access to major international speakers who will provide key insights into what is going on, not only within Australia but around the world.

On Wednesday morning of the Conference a major BIC National Session will take place which will solely focus on the key issues being dealt with in Canberra and nationally. The session will look at progress with these matters and provide the opportunity for discussion from the floor in relation to the forward work program of the industry and the key issues that operators and the manufacturers believe the industry should be pursuing. It is really up to the players in the Industry to attend the conference and be part of making a difference not just sitting on the sidelines.

Ministerial Re-shuffle by Howard

As part of the Prime Minister’s efforts to reinvigorate the Government and demonstrate the depth of talent available to the Coalition, he announced a ministerial re-shuffle on 14 July 2004. This reshuffle resulted from the retirements of Dr David Kemp and Darryl Williams.

The ministerial re-shuffle has implications for the industry as key Ministers whom had been dealing with important industry issues, in particular Effective Life Depreciation and the importation of 2^nd hand vehicles over 15 years have been changed to other portfolios.

Senator Helen Coonan who was responsible for the issue of Effective Life Depreciation is now the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts with the Honorary Mal Brough MP from Caboolture becoming the Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer.

The BIC has already been in contact with Mal Brough in relation to a possible meeting in early August during the next sittings of the Federal Parliament.

Senator the Hon Ian Campbell has become the Minister for Environment and Heritage and been replaced by Mr Jim Lloyd MP who now becomes the Minister for Local Government Territories and Roads and is now responsible for the issues relating to the importation of 2^nd hand vehicles over 15 years and the Sub Assembly Registration Number (SARN), not to mention roads and road funding.

The BIC has also put in place a request for a meeting with Mr Jim Lloyd and will be attending a dinner in Canberra on August 4 with him and a small group of key transport operators to raise industry concerns and ensure that they stay top of mind with the new Minister and his colleagues running into a Federal election which I still predict for October.

In relation to the Effective Life Depreciation issue it was interesting to find several weeks ago that the Australian Taxation Office website posted the new determination for depreciation rates for heavy vehicles.

This determination indicated that following discussions with the bus industry, trucking industry and heavy vehicle machinery industry that the effective life determination by the Tax Commissioner was to be 15 years.

It was surprising to find this determination on the ATO website as we have been involved in lengthy consultations and close discussions over the last 12-18 months, yet no formal advice or warning of this decision was given. It just appeared magically - out of the blue.

Interestingly the following day the determination had been removed from the website. It just disappeared magically – out of the blue

We understand that the removal from the website was to allow for the Government to consider its own policy position on Effective Life Depreciation rates for our industry and whether we should be eligible to be considered under the “safe harbour” clauses of the Act to have a lesser rate than 15 years adopted.

The BIC will be holding key and critical meetings during the next Parliamentary sitting weeks from August 3 through to August 12 in Canberra with the aim to seeing the Government making an announcement in relation to a favourable rate, (i.e. Not 15 years) preferably 5 years.

Whilst this issue remains unresolved it will continue to be a high priority for BIC. As well as high level discussions with the Government, we are also working closely with the ALP and Martin Ferguson’s office to see the ALP support the industry’s view that a 5-year Effective Life Depreciation rate should be adopted as ALP policy.

As I have mentioned on several occasions, this issue is critical for the industry in regard to reducing the age of the fleet, improving environmental performance, allowing the industry to effectively move through the Disability Discrimination Accessible Transport Standards requirements through to 2025 and supporting the local bus manufacturing industry.

I encourage you to make your Federal Member of Parliament and Candidates aware of this issue and take the opportunity to ask them what their position is. Do they support Industry on a 5 year effective life depreciation rate or not. Depreciation is now squarely an election issue for our industry. Your vote should depend on the right answer.

Mutual Recognition of Accreditation

On 26 July the BIC convened a meeting in Melbourne with each of the Executive Directors of the State Bus and Coach Associations.

The meeting discussed an outline of what we believe should be a core set of national standards that industry should meet to operate school, route and tour and charter services. This took place with the aim of working with the state jurisdictions through the National Transport Commission to see state based accreditation schemes mutually recognised across Australia.

As part of BIC’s overall campaign to raise the profile and lobbying influence of the industry, a key component is to raise the standards of bus operations in relation to safety, environment and professionalism. By doing this we also raise the industry’s profile and image and its integrity and credibility with our Local, State and Federal Government. Don’t get me wrong the Industry is already doing well but there is always room to improve, not to mention the need to focus on bus and coach operations out there currently providing passenger services without any form of accreditation.

Over the coming 6-12 months industry will be working closely with the National Transport Commission and the State jurisdictions to work towards the development of a mutually recognised accreditation system.

Shortly after Senator the Hon Ian Campbell took up his new role as Minister for the Environment and Heritage, he once again reinforced the announcements from last year’s budget in relation to future fuel quality standards.

The announcement once again restated that sulphur in premium unleaded petrol be limited to 50 parts per million from 1 January 2008 and sulphur in diesel will be capped at 10 parts per million from 1 January 2009.

An interesting component to these fuel quality standards is that an excise differential of 2c per litre has applied to diesel with sulphur content greater than 50 parts per million from 1 January 2004 running through until 1 January 2006 when diesel sulphur content will be regulated to 50 parts per million.

The BIC continues to raise concerns about the availability of 50 parts per million fuels and the excise differential that currently exists.

Further to this, production subsidies of 1c per litre will be provided from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2008 for diesel with sulphur content of less than 10 parts per million.

So whilst the BIC is maintaining a watching brief over the changes to improved fuel quality and just as importantly the availability of these fuels in the marketplace, we are also working closely with the Government in relation to the proposed timing for the introduction of Euro 4 Emission Standards. There is a need for the introduction to be delayed to ensure that urea infrastructure, that will be required to achieve Euro 4 emissions performance in most Australian run buses and coaches is in place and that we have the appropriate compliance and enforcement regimes operating for the effective use of these new technologies, (eg; Euro 4 technology will operate without urea but will deliver a Euro 1 emission performance).

It is hoped that by the time of the Conference in October 2004 we will have greater certainty in relation to Industry concerns with fuel quality, emission standards, Effective Life Depreciation, 2^nd hand imported vehicles etc. I hope you will be there to be updated and take part in what will be a great industry event. Mark your diary now for Oct 24-27 in Brisbane and register before September 10 to take advantage of the early bird registration fee.

Contact List

The association has negotiated rates with Hotel Grand Chancellor group for rates to members at the following locations. The rates are all for room only twin share and subject to availability.

Chancellor Resort Tamar Valley 03 6330 0400 Grindelwald $110.00 premier suite Inc one

Lemonthyne Lodge the Chancellor 03 6492 1112 Cradle Mountain $105.00 treetop cabin Room only

Bus Biz Tasmania

56 Mirrimar Drive

Blackmans Bay TAS 7062

Phone 03 6229 4451

Mobile 0417 397 629

Proprietor Roger Belcher advises that he carries good stocks of spare parts for a variety of makes and models.

Items always in stock include heaters, mirrors, roof vents, wiper parts, rivets, and rubber and plastic mouldings for bus bodies both old and new.

Contact Roger for that hard_to_get part.

Arrangements can be made to carry out body paneling, frame repairs, modifications, etc.

Phone Roger for personalised service

FOR SALE

1985

MERCEDES BENZ 1316 BUS

49 seats

(19,000km) since Diesel Motor overhauled

Registered

Good Condition

PRICE $15,000.00 plus GST

Please contact

AR & CA McFarlane

PO Box 1082

Echuca VIC 3564

Phone 03 5482 2322