Issue
Do a prime mover and attached semi-trailer comprise a 'registered vehicle' as defined in section 4 of the Energy Grants (Credits) Scheme Act 2003 (EGCSA)?
Decision
No. A prime mover and attached semi-trailer do not comprise a 'registered vehicle' as defined in section 4 of the EGCSA.
Facts
An entity owns and operates a prime mover and a semi-trailer. The prime mover is hitched to the semi-trailer.
The prime mover is a 'registered vehicle' as defined in the EGCSA.
The semi-trailer is a 'registered vehicle' as defined in the EGCSA.
Registration authorities register prime movers and semi-trailers separately. There is no 'combined' registration available for a prime mover/semi trailer combination.
Reasons for Decision
Section 4 of the EGCSA defines 'registered vehicle' as a vehicle that is 'registered for use on public roads'.
While it is necessary to register a semi-trailer or a prime mover with the relevant registration authorities, these authorities do not provide a separate registration for a prime mover/semi-trailer combination.
Consequently, while a prime mover hitched to a semi-trailer may be considered to be a single 'vehicle' in a general sense, the combination is not a 'registered vehicle' for the purposes of the EGCSA as it is not registered for use on public roads with a relevant registration authority. Rather, it is a vehicle made up of two registered vehicles.