Albanese Provides Timeframe for Safe Rates for Truck Drivers
In
a speech to the NSW Transport Workers Union delegates conference today,
federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese MP, provided a timetable
for the introduction of safe rates for truck drivers across Australia.
Mr Albanese stated that the Government would determine its response to the Safe Rates Directions paper issued in late 2010 by mid-October this year. Critically, Mr Albanese said that the Government “intends to introduce legislation, if required, by the end of this year.”
Tony Sheldon, TWU National Secretary, said: “this is great news that has been a long time coming. The TWU takes the Minister’s remarks as a commitment to moving to create a new tribunal or providing Fair Work Australia with the power to hear submissions from all interested parties and make independent determinations about what rates of pay and conditions should take effect in the road transport sector.
The Transport Workers Union has been campaigning at truck-stops, on the roads, in boardrooms and in the Parliament for over 5 years now. Tragically, over 1000 lives have been lost in heavy vehicle accidents during this period.
In his speech, Mr Albanese said the Government “acknowledged the need to tackle the problems of speed and fatigue in the road transport industry and to remove economic incentives for drivers to engage in unsafe work practices.”
It is a fact that many truck drivers have been subject to unreasonable and unsafe directions or threats to concerning their work because of the demands of powerful clients. Inquiry after inquiry, such as that conducted by the National Transport Commission in 2008 found that unacceptable off-road industrial and commercial practices are directly connected dangerous on-road behavior.
“The economic pressure placed upon drivers by powerful clients has forced many truck drivers to take risks that compromise their safety and that of other road users, simply to make a living. We now have hope that these practices will come to an end and that more truckies will return to their families after a hard day’s work. That has to be in everyone’s interests,” Mr Sheldon said.
Tony Sheldon said Mr Albanese has been a strong ally in ensuring new investment in critical transport infrastructure and in ensuring the nation’s growing transport needs are not only efficient and productive, but safe as well.
Tony Sheldon, TWU National Secretary, said: “this is great news that has been a long time coming. The TWU takes the Minister’s remarks as a commitment to moving to create a new tribunal or providing Fair Work Australia with the power to hear submissions from all interested parties and make independent determinations about what rates of pay and conditions should take effect in the road transport sector.
The Transport Workers Union has been campaigning at truck-stops, on the roads, in boardrooms and in the Parliament for over 5 years now. Tragically, over 1000 lives have been lost in heavy vehicle accidents during this period.
In his speech, Mr Albanese said the Government “acknowledged the need to tackle the problems of speed and fatigue in the road transport industry and to remove economic incentives for drivers to engage in unsafe work practices.”
It is a fact that many truck drivers have been subject to unreasonable and unsafe directions or threats to concerning their work because of the demands of powerful clients. Inquiry after inquiry, such as that conducted by the National Transport Commission in 2008 found that unacceptable off-road industrial and commercial practices are directly connected dangerous on-road behavior.
“The economic pressure placed upon drivers by powerful clients has forced many truck drivers to take risks that compromise their safety and that of other road users, simply to make a living. We now have hope that these practices will come to an end and that more truckies will return to their families after a hard day’s work. That has to be in everyone’s interests,” Mr Sheldon said.
Tony Sheldon said Mr Albanese has been a strong ally in ensuring new investment in critical transport infrastructure and in ensuring the nation’s growing transport needs are not only efficient and productive, but safe as well.