Julia Gillard
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
Anthony Albanese
Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government
Craig Emerson
Minister for Small Business, Independent Contractors and the Service Economy
Joint Media Statement
PARLIAMENT HOUSE CANBERRA ACT 2600
Telephone: 02 6277 7680 Facsimile: 02 6273 4126
AA092/2008
SAFER PAYMENT SYSTEMS FOR HEAVY VEHICLE DRIVERS
The National Transport Commission (NTC) will investigate and report on driver
remuneration and payment methods in the Australian trucking industry and make
recommendations for reform.
The NTC will be assisted by Professor Michael Quinlan of UNSW and the Hon Lance
Wright QC, the former president of the NSW Industrial Relations Commission.
The NTC will report by November 2008, and the report will be considered by the
Australian Transport Council (ATC Commonwealth, State and territory transport
ministers). Working with the ATC, the Governments objective is to implement these
reforms in the context of changes to national road transport regulation and the
introduction of the new workplace relations system.
The trucking industry prides itself on being highly competitive and efficient.
However, the industrys strength can also be its weakness, with truck drivers often
finding themselves in a weak bargaining position and unable to maintain safe work
practices.
This is especially so at a time when hard-working trucking companies and owner-
drivers, who deliver essential food and supplies to supermarket shelves every day,
have been hit hard by rising global fuel prices.
The report will examine how current methods and rates of pay for heavy vehicle
drivers contribute to poor road safety outcomes, and will identify options for
implementing a system of safe rates for both employees and owner-drivers,
recognising the special vulnerabilities of independent contractors in the transport
industry.
From 2000-2004, one in five road deaths involved heavy vehicles, with speed and
fatigue widely acknowledged to be significant factors. During recent years several
reports have also linked unsafe work practices in the trucking industry to road
accidents.
The investigation follows on from an agreement between Commonwealth, state and
territory transport ministers on February 29 concerning the need for a coordinated
national transport plan. The NTC was requested to review and make recommendations
relating to truck driver pay and remunerations methods.
The Government notes that addressing this matter touches on developments in
Commonwealth and State regulations relating to transport and road safety,
workplace relations, occupational health and safety and the legislative frameworks
for employees and independent contractors.
The Government is committed to working with the transport industry, unions and
other stakeholders to improve road safety for Australian families, ensure a fair go for
both employees and owner-drivers, and sustain the long-term viability of the trucking
industry.
Todays announcement continues the Governments heavy vehicle reform process
and complements other safety initiatives, including:
Implementing news laws to limit heavy vehicle driver fatigue and excessive
speed; and
A $70 million safety and productivity package which will fund the trial of
black box technologies that monitor driving hours and speed as well as the
construction of more rest areas along the nations highways.
Media Contact:
Jeff Singleton
0410 476 890/
jeff.singleton@infrastructure.gov.au
Friday, 25 July 2008