National Heavy Vehicle Standards (Flashing Warning Lights) Exemption Notice 2025 (No.1)

Administered by Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts

Legislation au C2025G00527 In force Gazette

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HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

NATIONAL HEAVY VEHICLE STANDARDS (FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS) EXEMPTION NOTICE 2025 (No.1)

 

Part 1 – Preliminary

  1.        Purpose

 

The purpose of this notice is to exempt a heavy vehicle to which it applies from specific requirements of the Heavy Vehicle (Vehicle Standards) National Regulation (VS Regulation).

 

  1.        Authorising Provision

 

This Notice is made under section 61 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL).

 

  1.        Title

This Notice may be cited as the National Heavy Vehicle Standards (Flashing Warning Lights) Exemption Notice 2025 (No.1).

 

  1.        Commencement

This Notice commences on 1 October 2025.

 

  1.        Expiry

This Notice expires on 30 September 2030.

 

  1.        Definitions

 

  1.       Unless otherwise stated, words and expressions used in this Notice have the same meanings as those defined in the HVNL.

 

  1.       In this Notice –

Applicable vehicle means a heavy vehicle:

  1.       described in the relevant Part of this notice,
  2.       operating in the area and manner described in the relevant Part of this notice, and
  3.        complies with the conditions detailed in the relevant Part of this notice.


  1.        Exemption from Prescribed Vehicle Standards

 

An applicable vehicle is exempt from complying with the requirements of section 79(3) and 79(4) of Schedule 2 of the VS Regulation.

 

Part 2– Workplace Health and Safety or Civil Aviation

  1.        Application

 

  1.       Part 2 of this Notice applies in all participating jurisdictions.

 

  1.       Part 2 of this Notice applies to a heavy vehicle, other than an exempt vehicle or a special use vehicle, that is required to have one or more flashing yellow warning lights fitted to comply with work site or workplace health and safety legislation or the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1988 (Cth), and to an omnibus used on the O-Bahn busway.

 

  1.        Conditions

 

  1.       A heavy vehicle operating under this part may be fitted with one or more flashing yellow lights.

 

  1.       A flashing light or lights must be mounted on top of the heavy vehicle and be visible from all sides.

 

  1.       The operator of a heavy vehicle operating under this part must carry a letter of authorisation.

 

  1.       A letter of authorisation must:
    1.       be issued either by the work site manager or an authorised representative of the registered operator; and
    2.       identify the work site where the heavy vehicle is operating; and
    3.        identify the heavy vehicle, or type of heavy vehicle, that the letter applies to; and
    4.       include an end date for the authorisation.

 

  1.       For the purposes of Condition 4(b) of this Part, for a heavy vehicle working at more than one work site that requires the use of flashing warning lights, the letter of authority may refer to a ‘run sheet’, ‘work schedule’ or other company issued document that clearly identifies the work sites the vehicle will access.


  1.       For the purposes of Condition 4(c) of this Part, a heavy vehicle or type of heavy vehicle may be identified by either:
  1.       the vehicle’s registration number; or
  2.       for an organisation that operates a fleet of vehicles where the vehicles are clearly marked on both sides of the cabin by a company logo and name — by these markings; or
  3.        a unique fleet identification number, where this is permanently marked and clearly visible on the vehicle.

 

  1.       The letter of authorisation and any document mentioned in condition 5 of this Part must be kept in each heavy vehicle at all times when operating under this notice and must be produced on request by an authorised officer.

 

  1.       Conditions 3-7 listed in this Part do not apply to a heavy vehicle that is clearly identifiable as a vehicle that is used at airports, in the mining, construction or manufacturing industries, or that is an omnibus used on the O-Bahn busway.

 

  1.       Flashing lights must not be turned on when the heavy vehicle is being driven or standing on a road or road-related area unless an emergency service officer gives that direction in response to an emergency or disaster.

 

Part 3 – Animal and Pest Management Vehicles in Queensland

  1.        Application

 

  1.       Part 3 of this Notice applies only in Queensland.

 

  1.       Part 3 of this Notice applies to a heavy vehicle, other than an exempt vehicle or a special use vehicle, which is operated by:
  1.       the Brisbane City Council (as defined in the City of Brisbane Act 2010 (Qld)) in the course of its daily operations of animal and pest control within the area of that council; or
  2.       a local government (as defined under the Local Government Act 2009 (Qld)) in the course of its daily operations of animal and pest control within the area of that local government; or
  3.        the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Queensland (RSPCAQ) in the course of the activities of the society’s inspectorate; or
  4.       a department of government (as established by the Public Sector Act 2022 (Qld Chapter 6 Part 2 Section 197) in the course of its daily operations of animal and pest control in Queensland.


  1.        Conditions

 

  1.       A heavy vehicle operating under this part may be fitted with one or more green and yellow flashing lights.

 

  1.       Flashing lights must not be turned on other than when the vehicle is being used for animal or pest management activities.

Part 4 – Fire Management Vehicles in Queensland

  1.        Application

 

  1.       Part 4 of this Notice applies only in Queensland.  

 

  1.       Part 4 of this Notice also applies to a heavy vehicle, other than an exempt vehicle or a special use vehicle, which is used for fire management by:

 

  1.       a department of government (as established by the Public Sector Act 2022 (Qld) Chapter 6 Part 2 Section 197); or
  2.       the Brisbane City Council (as defined in the City of Brisbane Act 2010 (Qld)); or
  3.        a local government (as defined in the Local Government Act 2009 (Qld)); or
  4.       a plantation licensee (as defined in the Forestry Act 1959 (Qld)); or
  5.       Griffith University (as defined in the Griffith University Act 1998 (Qld)); or
  6.         a new water entity (as defined in the South East Queensland Water (Restructuring) Act 2007 (Qld)); or
  7.        another entity which provides fire management services on behalf of an entity listed in subsections (a) – (f).

 

  1.        Conditions

 

  1.       A heavy vehicle operating under this part may be fitted with one or more green and yellow flashing lights.

 

  1.       Flashing lights must not be turned on other than when the vehicle is being used for fire management activities.

 

Part 5 – Vehicles Attending to Livestock Movement in South Australia

  1.        Application

 

  1.       Part 5 of this Notice applies only in South Australia.

 

  1.       Part 5 of this Notice applies to a heavy vehicle, other than an exempt vehicle or a special use vehicle, that is used by a primary producer for escorting livestock along or across a road or a road related area.

 

  1.        Conditions

 

  1.       A heavy vehicle operating under this part may be fitted with one or more flashing yellow lights.

 

  1.       Flashing lights must not be turned on other than when the vehicle is being used in relation to the movement of livestock along or across a road or road related area.

 

 

 

 

Kelli Walker

A/Chief Safety and Productivity

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator

 

Overview

The Heavy Vehicle (Vehicle Standards) National Regulation (VS Regulation) sets out the standards for heavy vehicles in Australia, including the requirements for flashing warning lights. To address specific operational needs in various sectors, the National Heavy Vehicle Standards (Flashing Warning Lights) Exemption Notice 2025 (No.1) was enacted under section 61 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL). This Notice aims to provide exemptions from certain requirements of the VS Regulation to heavy vehicles used in particular contexts, such as work sites, animal and pest management, fire management, and livestock movement. The exemptions are designed to ensure safety and compliance while allowing flexibility for these specialised operations. The Notice will be in effect from 1 October 2025 and will expire on 30 September 2030, providing a temporary solution to address identified operational gaps.

Scope and Application

The National Heavy Vehicle Standards (Flashing Warning Lights) Exemption Notice 2025 (No. 1) provides specific exemptions from certain requirements of the Heavy Vehicle (Vehicle Standards) National Regulation. This Notice, made under section 61 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL), applies to certain heavy vehicles operating in various contexts, including workplaces, animal and pest management, fire management, and livestock movement, across different jurisdictions in Australia. Notably, the Notice exempts applicable vehicles from compliance with specific sections of the VS Regulation and sets out particular conditions and restrictions for the use of flashing warning lights on these vehicles. The exemptions and conditions vary depending on the part of the Notice and the particular industry or operational context of the vehicle, with some parts applying nationally and others limited to specific states or territories. The Notice includes provisions for the issuance and display of letters of authorisation for certain vehicles and specifies that flashing lights should not be activated unless required by specific circumstances or emergency situations. The Notice is set to commence on 1 October 2025 and will expire on 30 September 2030.

Key Provisions

The National Heavy Vehicle Standards (Flashing Warning Lights) Exemption Notice 2025 (No.1) provides exemptions from specific requirements under the Heavy Vehicle (Vehicle Standards) National Regulation (VS Regulation) for certain heavy vehicles. Section 3 of Part 1 outlines that the purpose of the notice is to exempt specified heavy vehicles from certain VS Regulation requirements. The notice is made under section 61 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) and commences on 1 October 2025, expiring on 30 September 2030. The term "applicable vehicle" is defined in the notice as a heavy vehicle that meets the criteria described in the relevant part of the notice, operates in the area and manner specified, and complies with the conditions outlined. The obligations imposed by the notice are detailed in the various parts. In Part 2, heavy vehicles used for workplace health and safety or civil aviation must comply with specific conditions: they may be fitted with flashing yellow lights, which must be mounted on top and visible from all sides, and the operator must carry a letter of authorisation issued by the work site manager or an authorised representative. This letter must identify the work site, the heavy vehicle or type of vehicle, and include an end date. Exemptions apply for vehicles used at airports, in the mining, construction, or manufacturing industries, or omnibuses used on the O-Bahn busway. Additionally, flashing lights must not be turned on while on a road or road-related area unless directed by an emergency service officer in response to an emergency or disaster. Part 3 and Part 4, which apply only in Queensland, impose similar conditions but with green and yellow flashing lights for animal and pest management vehicles, and fire management vehicles respectively. Part 5, applicable in South Australia, allows heavy vehicles used by primary producers for livestock movement to be fitted with flashing yellow lights, which must only be turned on during livestock movement. Failure to comply with the conditions of the notice can result in various penalties and consequences. While the notice does not explicitly state penalties, breaches of the Heavy Vehicle National Law or associated regulations can lead to fines, prosecution, and potential disqualification from driving. The specific penalties would be determined based on the relevant legislation under which the notice is made.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.