Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 18/00 - Instrumentation) 2006 Amendment 1

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

Legislation au F2006L04065 Not in force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 18/00 – Instrumentation) 2006 Amendment 1

 

 

 

Made under section 7 of the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989

 

 

 

 

 

 

Explanatory Statement

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issued by the authority of the Minister for Transport and

Regional Service

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

October 2006

 

 

CONTENTS

 

1. legislative context................................................

2. content and effect of ADR 18/00 - Instrumentation Amendment 1...........

3. consultation arrangements..........................................

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


  1.                        legislative context

Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 18/00 — Instrumentation) 2006 Amendment 1 is made under the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 (the Act).  The Act enables the Australian Government to establish nationally uniform standards for road vehicles when they are first supplied to the market in Australia.  The Act applies to such vehicles whether they are manufactured in Australia or are imported as new or second hand vehicles.

The making of the vehicle standards necessary for the Act's effective operation is provided for in section 7, which empowers the Minister to "determine vehicle standards for road vehicles or vehicle components".

Australian Design Rule (ADR) 18/00 was originally determined in Determination of Motor Vehicle Standards Order No. 1 of 1989 and remade in Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 18/00 - Instrumentation) 2006.

  1.                        content and effect of ADR 18/00 - Instrumentation Amendment 1
    1.                  Changes to the ADR

The changes set out in schedule 1 of the amending instrument correct typographical errors that were introduced when converting from the image scan of the original document to the format required by the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.

 

These changes are necessary to prevent any potential confusion when applying the vehicle standards.

  1.                  Documents Incorporated by Reference

The amending instrument does not incorporate any documents by reference (excluding the principle instrument).

  1.                        consultation arrangements
    1.                  General Consultation Arrangements

It has been longstanding practice to consult widely on proposed new or amended vehicle standards.  For many years there has been active collaboration between the Federal and the State/Territory Governments, as well as consultation with industry and consumer groups.  Much of the consultation takes place within institutional arrangements established for this purpose.  The analysis and documentation prepared in a particular case, and the bodies consulted, depend on the degree of impact the new or amended standard is expected to have on industry or road users.

Depending on the nature of the proposed changes, consultation could involve the Technical Liaison Group (TLG), Transport Agencies Chief Executives (TACE), and the Australian Transport Council (ATC).

  • TLG consists of representatives of government (Australian and State/Territory), the manufacturing and operational arms of the industry (including organisations such as the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries and the Australian Trucking Association) and of representative organisations of consumers and road users (particularly through the Australian Automobile Association).
  • TACE consists of the chief executives of Australian and State/Territory departments of transport and road vehicle administrations.
  • ATC consists of the Australian, State/Territory and New Zealand Ministers with responsibility for transport issues.

Editorial changes and changes to correct errors are processed by the Department of Transport and Regional Services.  This approach is only used where the amendments do not vary the intent of the vehicle standard.

New standards, or significant changes that increase the stringency of existing standards, are subject to a vote by ATC Ministers.  Unless disapproved by a majority of ATC Ministers, the Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads, can then determine the new or amended standards, under the authority of the Minister for Transport and Regional Services.  Proposals that are regarded as significant need to be supported by a Regulation Impact Statement meeting the requirements of the Office of Regulation Review as published in A Guide to Regulation. 

  1.                  Specific Consultation Arrangements for this Vehicle Standard

As this amending instrument corrects typographical errors, a regulation impact statement has not been prepared and no consultation has been carried out.

 

 

Overview

The Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 18/00 – Instrumentation) 2006 Amendment 1, enacted under the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989, addresses typographical errors introduced during the conversion of the original ADR document. This amendment was necessary to prevent confusion in the application of vehicle standards. The Australian Government, through the Minister for Transport and Regional Services, maintains nationally uniform standards for road vehicles supplied to the market in Australia, whether manufactured domestically or imported. The policy objective is to ensure clarity and accuracy in vehicle standards, facilitating effective regulation and safety compliance. The amendment process involved no significant changes to the standard's intent, hence it did not require extensive consultation or a Regulation Impact Statement. Instead, it was processed by the Department of Transport and Regional Services, adhering to established practices of widespread consultation with stakeholders including the Technical Liaison Group, Transport Agencies Chief Executives, and the Australian Transport Council for more substantive changes.

Scope and Application

The Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 18/00 – Instrumentation) 2006 Amendment 1 is an instrument made under the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989, which provides the legislative basis for establishing uniform standards for road vehicles supplied in Australia. This Act applies to all road vehicles, regardless of whether they are manufactured in Australia or imported, ensuring a consistent standard across the national market. The Amendment 1 corrects typographical errors from the original Australian Design Rule 18/00 to prevent confusion and maintain clarity in the application of vehicle standards. The scope of the legislation is national, covering all jurisdictions within Australia, and it does not incorporate any additional documents by reference apart from the principal instrument itself. The amendment process involves consultation with relevant bodies, such as the Transport Agencies Chief Executives and the Australian Transport Council, particularly for significant changes, although this particular amendment, being purely editorial, did not require such consultation.

Key Provisions

The Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 18/00 – Instrumentation) 2006 Amendment 1 (ADR 18/00 Amendment 1) modifies the original ADR 18/00, which was established to set the standards for instrumentation in road vehicles. Section 7 of the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 (section 7) empowers the Minister to determine these vehicle standards, and this amendment rectifies typographical errors that were introduced during the conversion process from an image scan to a legislative format. The purpose of these amendments is to ensure clarity and prevent confusion when applying the standards (content and effect of ADR 18/00 - Instrumentation Amendment 1). The ADR 18/00 Amendment 1 imposes certain obligations on parties involved in the manufacture, importation, or supply of road vehicles in Australia. Manufacturers and importers must ensure that their vehicles comply with the corrected standards set out in ADR 18/00 Amendment 1. This includes adhering to the specifications and requirements for vehicle instrumentation, which are essential for the safe operation of vehicles on Australian roads. The Act ensures that these standards are uniformly applied to both domestically manufactured and imported vehicles. Failure to comply with the standards set by ADR 18/00 Amendment 1 may lead to legal consequences. Although the amendment itself does not introduce new offences, non-compliance with the corrected standards can result in penalties under the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989. These penalties may include fines, and in severe cases, the vehicles may be deemed non-compliant and could be subject to impoundment or refusal of registration. The specific penalties are determined according to the provisions of the overarching Act, which can impose both civil and criminal sanctions depending on the nature and severity of the breach.

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Administrative Law
Instrument
Regulation
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Definitions & Interpretation
Consultation Requirements
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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.