Local MP's Back Safe Rates Laws

• General News
• 15th March 2012

I was proud to stand with truck drivers, from across Australia and our national leaders Tony Sheldon and Michael Kaine to give evidence on the proposed Road Safety Remuneration Bill to the Standing Committee on Infrastructure and Communication at a parliamentary hearing in Canberra in February. The laws have the full backing of the Gillard government and Labor MPs from across Australia have signed Pledges supporting the legislation.

Our WA federal Labor MP's Stephen Smith, Gary Gray, Melissa Parke, Glenn Sterle, Mark Bishop, Chris Evans and Louise Pratt have enthusiastically signed on the dotted line.

However, the voting intentions of the Liberals, Nationals and some of the independents are still unclear.

I have been involved in the lobbying of MP's and I am hopeful they will see the obvious necessity for the laws.

Statistics reveal that:

• Truck drivers are 16 times more likely to die on the job than workers in any other occupation. (Source: Safe Work Australia).
• On average more than 300 Australians die each year as a result of crashes involving trucls.

The Safe Rates laws the TWU is fighting for will hopefully help bring down these terrible statistics.

Our hope is that the laws will go through parliament and be in operation by July 1. Time will tell if that is an overly optimistic expectation.

WHAT ARE SAFE RATES?

• A way to make sure that no driver is encouraged or forced to work in an unsafe manner in order to earn a fair living.
• Payment for all time worked for employee drivers.
• Full cost recovery for owner drivers.
• Every hour, Every km and Every cost.

WHAT WE FIGHTING FOR?

• Client accountability - Coles, Woolworths, mining companies and other major clients must accept responsibility for the pressures they place on drivers. This includes paying waiting time, flexible delivery times & cost recovery for fuel.
• National award for employee drivers ensuring payment for every hour and every kilometre worked.
• Enforceable cost recovery for all owner drivers. Rates that cover all costs borne by the owner driver in the performance of work (fuel, insurance, maintenance, wages etc) and the capacity to change rates to compensate drivers for rising costs.
• Enforcement of safe rates. Appropriate Chain of Responsibility laws and enforcement rights to ensure transport clients pay safe rates.