Carbon tax will cause more truck-related deaths

• Owner Drivers
• 27th January 2012

The TWU has today expressed concern that the application of a de facto carbon tax on fuels for heavy vehicles from July 2014 will further disadvantage truck drivers and cause more deaths on Australian roads.

TWU National Secretary Tony Sheldon said changes in fuel tax credits and excise levels "will result in more truck driver deaths and related harm unless drivers can fully recover their costs."

"Truck drivers are approaching the union and asking how they can ensure the tax will not just be another hit on running costs that they won't be compensated for. I reckon that's a pretty good question", Mr Sheldon said.

The TWU notes the Government's view that 'heavy on-road vehicles account for over 25 per cent of transport emissions.'

The TWU is not contesting this claim, but the Union is arguing that this tax, together with no system of enforcing safe rates, is a 'double-hit' to people who already walk the line in terms of keeping their trucks on the road.

"We don't want this tax to be another cost pressure for owner drivers and employee drivers that leads to dangerous driving and worse. Truckies have to be compensated and the only way to do that is through establishing a safe rates system," Mr Sheldon said

We note the Government's support materials for the carbon tax indicate the Multi-Party Committee members were divided on how to treat heavy on-road transport.

The Union will be looking to discuss this matter with Committee members in the coming weeks to determine whether truck drivers will be the forgotten victims of the new tax regime or whether they support the people who keep the country moving.

Mr Sheldon said that "Our issue has always been full cost recovery for truck drivers. Real cost recovery - not bare bones cost recovery.  We will not deviate from that until we secure it." (11 July 2011)