Regulations for 4WD towing vehicles must not lock out those who tow caravans, boats and trailers

TRANSPORT Minister Mark Bailey’s reluctance to discuss regulations for towing vehicles with key stakeholders could have major repercussions for grey nomads and the communities they support, writes The Editor.

Thousands of grey nomads, who are the lifeblood of small western communities, will be affected by the regulations.

AS OUR population ages, more and more people look to the adventure and leisurely enjoyment of travelling around this big country with a caravan on the back of a big four-wheel drive.

At the same time, plenty of boaties love to have their tinny and all its add-ons bouncing along behind a big-cabin, big-engine machine.

Regulating and policing the four-wheel drives that are used for towing should be a relatively simple matter.

Others use the workhorses of the road – Toyota HiLuxes, Subaru Outbacks, Kia Sorentos, Ford Everests, Chevrolet Suburbans and Nissan Armadas – to tow horse floats, trailers and other recreational and commercial attachments.

While it would seem regulating and policing these vehicles would be simple, our governments and their bureaucratic advisers, unsurprisingly, are making it all too hard. As revealed in The Courier-Mail today, new rules could make it all but impossible for many drivers of big SUVs to hitch up their caravan or trailer.

It might be possible to have a regular SUV and a standard towed vehicle from the showroom with no extras and not be caught by the rules, but if you add a fuel tank, a water tank or even something like a heavy bull bar, you might find yourself overweight and off the road.

Demonstrating just how dire things are, the peak body looking after the interests of about 200,000 grey nomads in Queensland who travel around with their caravans, is finding it next to impossible to get basic information out of the Government.

They can’t discern why new rules are needed although it’s expected to be safety related – preventing drivers from towing vehicles that are too heavy because they cannot stop quickly or are subject to some other unreliability.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey’s door is apparently closed to them and it’s suggested if they want to tow overweight trailers, caravans or other similar vehicles they should trade up to a bigger 4WD and carry the appalling fuel efficiency and superfluous additional costs.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey must open his door to representatives of the caravan association and other groups who will be directly affected. Picture: AAP/Glenn Hunt

Some of those associated with the sectors affected believe police and SES vehicles also could be caught by these new rules. That would be laughable.

It’s clear Mr Bailey needs to open his door to representatives of the caravan association and other groups who fear they will be affected. He should sit down, listen to their concerns and, if necessary, take action to make the system work.

No one is going to brush aside safety issues but we should talk these through in the open, not by writing rules behind closed doors.

Anyone who drives through outback Queensland or along the coast knows that many small and medium-sized town economies would suffer immensely if even a fraction of those thousands of grey nomads was forced off the road.

This is part of the rural and outback tourism industry that’s growing – people are travelling the long, open highways and staying in caravan parks or down by the rivers. They are eating at local shops and enjoying the sights in places like Barcaldine, Boulia, Hughenden, Richmond and Mt Etna.

These industries should be fostered rather than have the cold hand of bureaucracy crash down upon them. Fix this Mr Bailey and do it quickly.

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DENYING ANZAC DAY FUNDING INSULTS ALL THOSE WHO SERVED

THERE are few more solemn and revered days on the Australian calendar than Anzac Day, when the community comes together to pause and remember those who fought for our nation and our way of life. We pause to show respect for the thousands of men and women who paid the ultimate price for defending our country.

The Anzac Day Parade has been a fixture in Brisbane since the Gallipoli campaign of 1916. Picture; Steve Pohlner

In World War I, more than 60,000 Aussies died and 156,000 were injured, while in the second great war, 27,000 died and 23,500 were injured. And Australians are still engaged overseas, mainly in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria.

Once a year, at the end of April, we observe this national day at dawn services and marches around the country. Brisbane’s Anzac Day commemorations have been held every year since 1916, shortly after our troops showed such courage on the beaches of Gallipoli. In those early years, Anzac Day was a solemn requiem for the fallen, a rally to recruit for the armed forces, a day of fundraising and festivity and a celebration of our nation.

During the past 102 years, no Queensland Government has done anything to impede or frustrate this day of national pride. However, that may be about to change, with the Palaszczuk Government brushing off a request from the Brisbane Anzac Day Combined Parade Committee for more funding assistance to meet increased costs. The committee asked for a $35,000 increase in its government support.

All the Premier’s assistant minister for veterans’ affairs, Jenny Howard, could come up with was $5000. The suggestion was to go cap in hand to the Australian War Memorial, the federal Veterans’ Affairs Department or find a corporate sponsor.

Additional funding is needed mainly to cover costs for security at a time when there is a heightened risk for all public events. As the Anzac Day committee’s media officer Allen Gallaghan said, these extra demands come at a price. This miserly attitude from the Palaszczuk Government has caused the committee to look at cutting the duration of the march. This would be an insult to all those who have served our country with distinction.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Sam Weir, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details are available at couriermail.com.au