The Australian government has frozen the heavy vehicle Road User Charge for the third year in succession.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss said the charge will remain at the current 26.14 cents per litre for the 2015–16 financial year.
“This decision is good for the heavy vehicle industry and the national economy,” Truss commented. “By maintaining the rate of the Road User Charge for a third year, the Australian Government is doing its bit to support heavy vehicle productivity, while ensuring the sector pays its share of road maintenance and construction costs.
“It will reduce the cost of doing business for operators and support productivity in those sectors of the economy that rely on heavy vehicles to supply business inputs and deliver products to markets.
“The annual saving to industry in 2015–16 is estimated to be $11 million and follows findings by the National Transport Commission that the Road User Charge has been over-collecting in recent years.
“I am sure this decision will be welcomed by the road transport industry which as a whole employs almost 400,000 Australians.”
The freeze was agreed to following extensive consultation with the sector earlier this year.
