Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 4/00 - Seatbelts) 2006 Amendment 1

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

Legislation au F2006L04050 Not in force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 4/00 – Seatbelts) 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 4/00 - Seatbelts Amendment 1.................

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


  1.                        legislative context

Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 4/00 — Seatbelts) 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) 4/00 was originally determined in Determination of Motor Vehicle Standards Order No. 1 of 1989 and remade in Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 4/00 - Seatbelts) 2006.

  1.                        content and effect of ADR 4/00 - Seatbelts 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 4/00 – Seatbelts) 2006 Amendment 1 was enacted in 2006 under the authority of the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989. This legislation was introduced to correct typographical errors that had been inadvertently introduced during the conversion of the original document into a format required by the Legislative Instruments Act 2003. These amendments were essential to ensure clarity and prevent any confusion that might arise when applying the vehicle standards. The Australian Government, through the Minister for Transport and Regional Services, is responsible for establishing nationally uniform standards for road vehicles, and this amendment was a minor but necessary adjustment to the Australian Design Rule 4/00 concerning seatbelts, ensuring the standards' integrity and effectiveness. As this amendment was purely corrective in nature, no consultation or regulatory impact statement was required.

Scope and Application

The Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 4/00 – Seatbelts) 2006 Amendment 1, made under the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989, applies to all road vehicles supplied in Australia, whether manufactured domestically or imported. This amendment ensures the integrity and clarity of the vehicle standards by correcting typographical errors that may have caused confusion in the application of the original Australian Design Rule 4/00. The scope of the Act is national, encompassing all jurisdictions within Australia, with no exclusions or exemptions provided in this specific amendment. The Act extends to both new and second-hand vehicles, ensuring consistent application across the entire vehicle market. The legislative process for significant changes to vehicle standards involves extensive consultation with relevant stakeholders, including the Technical Liaison Group, Transport Agencies Chief Executives, and the Australian Transport Council, though this particular amendment, being purely editorial, did not necessitate such consultation. The Act's intent remains to establish and maintain uniform vehicle standards that prioritise safety and operational clarity across Australia.

Key Provisions

The Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 4/00 – Seatbelts) 2006 Amendment 1 (F2006L04050) corrects typographical errors in the original Australian Design Rule 4/00 (ADR 4/00) to prevent confusion in applying vehicle standards. The amendment is made under section 7 of the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989, which empowers the Minister to determine vehicle standards for road vehicles or vehicle components. The purpose of this amendment is purely corrective, aiming to rectify errors introduced during the conversion of the original document to the format required by the Legislative Instruments Act 2003. The obligations imposed by this amendment are straightforward. It mandates that any vehicle manufacturer or importer comply with the corrected standards to ensure that seatbelts meet the necessary safety criteria without any misinterpretation due to typographical errors. Given that the changes are technical corrections, the primary requirement is to adhere to the updated text of ADR 4/00 to maintain uniform safety standards across the industry. There are no new offences, penalties, or consequences specified for breaching these corrected standards in the amendment itself. However, under the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989, any failure to comply with the vehicle standards could potentially lead to enforcement actions. The Act provides for various penalties, including fines and potential criminal charges, depending on the severity and intent of the non-compliance. For instance, significant breaches might attract more severe penalties, including substantial fines and even imprisonment for individuals responsible for the non-compliance. The exact penalties would depend on the specific circumstances and the discretion of the court or relevant enforcement authority.

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Area of Law
Commercial Law
Product Safety Law
Instrument
Regulation
Concepts
Definitions & Interpretation
Reporting & Disclosure Obligations
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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.