Exposure during childhood can cause lasting damage to lung growth and immune function and is increasingly linked to impaired cognitive development. Every day, children breathe polluted air near our roads and their developing bodies pay the highest price.
Working with drivers, protecting our kids.
Road freight is the backbone of supply chains in Australia. Truck drivers are responsible for getting the goods we rely on to where they need to go cheaply and quickly. The government must support the truck industry - especially the small operators that make up the majority of our industry with reforms, and regulatory clarity that enable them to move to cleaner, safer vehicles.
This year the federal government is revising the Heavy Vehicle National Law, and so far, health has not been a part of the conversation. For the sake of our children, this needs to change.
Why Australia’s Truck Fleet Matters
Australia has an ageing truck fleet, where 13% of registered heavy trucks abide by no emissions standards, and 47% are only compliant with emissions standards set before 2011.
This means that while heavy vehicles make up a small fraction of the fleet, they produce roughly 25% of all on-road vehicle emissions, a primary source of population exposure to air pollution in Australia.
What the experts say: No standard, no protection.
The federal government is revising the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) in 2026, but health impacts have not yet been included. Experts recommend:
- Integrating health into Heavy Vehicle Emission Standards
- Accelerating the transition to zero-emission heavy vehicles in urban areas
- Rerouting freight away from schools and childcare centres
- Investing in mitigation measures like green barriers and air filtration in high-risk schools
Without these reforms, Australia’s truck fleet will continue to lag behind Europe, the US, and China and children will continue to bear the greatest burden.
Parents, MPs, and policymakers have an opportunity to protect children’s health and secure cleaner air for the next generation. We cannot afford to wait.