Last-Mile Couriers and Gig Workers descend on WA Parliament to Close a Loophole in legislation

Members of the Transport Workers Union (TWU WA) working in small business, parcel and gig sectors will descend on WA Parliament on Wednesday 18 March to urge politicians to amend the Owner Driver (Contracts and Disputes) legislation to include them.

Legislation currently covers vehicles over 4.5 tonnes including heavy vehicle owner drivers and hirers in the freight industry. But a loophole in the legislation leaves ‘last-mile’ drivers open to exploitation.

Last-mile refers to the final step in the supply chain from when a parcel leaves the depot, to when it arrives at its destination. This crucial link in the chain is expanding rapidly, and demand for food and parcel delivery is projected to grow from A$19.2 billion in 2024 to A$26.6 billion by 2033.

Many drivers operate out of their own vehicles, often financed at enormous personal cost, yet when issues arise, they are too often met with a lack of cost recovery processes or meaningful dispute resolution.

“The law has not kept pace with the changing industry. As last mile couriers’ responsibilities increase with the growing volume of parcels, so too should maintenance standards, compliance and regulation,” TWU WA State Secretary Tim Dawson Said.

Surveys show 45% of gig transport workers earn below the minimum wage. 73% fear for their safety at work. 81% rely on that income to survive. More than half feel pressured to rush deliveries.

While public focus often centres on heavy vehicles, the pressures on light vehicle owner-drivers are just as real. And while the parcel sector is the fastest growing sector in transport, the protections for workers doing this work just aren’t available.

“The TWU is advocating for stronger communication and coordination between government departments, including WorkSafe WA, Main Roads WA and WA Police, to improve compliance to prevent serious accidents.”

By winning the amendment to the legislation to include vehicles under 4.5 tonnes, essential workers like owner drivers and parcel delivery couriers can operate under the same legislative protections that larger heavy vehicle operators rely on to be safe on our roads.