BILL TO PROVIDE EFFECTIVE ONGOING RELIEF FOR FUEL COSTS IN TRANSPORT PASSES SENATE

The TWU, peak transport employer body ARTIO, and NRFA, have welcomed the passing of legislation to amend the Fair Work Act to allow emergency powers to deal with surging fuel prices causing imminent risk to transport businesses and our national supply chains.

It comes as the Federal Government announces the supplementary measures of slashing the fuel excise and removing the heavy vehicle road user charge.

The Fairer Fuel bill, which has now passed through both Houses of Parliament, will allow the FWC to more quickly make orders requiring clients of transport—retailers,manufacturers and mining companies—to ensure that they pay the transport companies they use to cart their goods enough to cover these steep fuel price increases.

The transport industry coalition of TWU, ARTIO and NRFA will apply to the Fair Work Commission to assist drivers and transport operators with crippling fuel costs following the passion of the legislation.        `

With many drivers and transport operators at crisis point, there is no time to delay these orders, with an imminent risk of widespread business closures and increasing financial pressure on drivers to rush and delay vehicle maintenance without urgent action.

Already this year, 39 people have died in truck crashes on Australian roads, including 11 truck drivers, and transport company liquidations have shot up 48% from the last year.

TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said:

“This legislation will bring a sigh of relief to the tens of thousands in road transport currently facing one of the toughest challenges the industry has seen.

“These changes provide the potential for a flexible, ongoing mechanism to lift the burden of fuel cost increases from drivers and operators, some of whom are already having to park up their trucks, to the top of the supply chain. This is an industry emergency and we commend the Federal Government for quickly acting to ensure owner drivers and trucking businesses can emerge on the other side.

“We will work quickly with transport employers and industry bodies on an application for an order that can respond as this crisis develops, and which will save trucking businesses, keep drivers safe and safeguard our supply chains.”

ARTIO National Secretary Peter Anderson said:

“We thank the Albanese Government for putting forward these changes and the other parties for allowing this legislation to proceed. This legislation will help to ensure transport operators can recover costs from their clients and pass it down the supply chain to ensure real relief for the entire industry.

“Though the other measures introduced today by the Federal Government are logical, they are not dynamic enough to ensure long-term relief in road transport, and are not the complete package.”

NRFA National President Glyn Castanelli said:

“Owner drivers and operators are right now facing down fuel bills, some in the hundreds of thousands, which will push them off a cliff in a few weeks without action.

“Making sure fuel costs are covered from the top of the supply chain, all the way down, is the best way we have to ensure real relief for the transport industry.