CPA - The Guardian

With more than 280 people killed each year on the nation’s roads due to heavy vehicle incidents, the Transport Workers Union (TWU) has welcomed the federal government’s announcement of the establishment of the country’s first National Road Safety Council.

TWU federal secretary, Tony Sheldon, said the whole of government approach to road safety was something that the road transport industry urgently required.

“This Council will consist of road safety experts and community leaders coming together to independently advise the Commonwealth, State and Territory transport ministers on how effective their safety measures are,” Mr Sheldon said.

The union said it looked forward to working with the Council, and hopes that it immediately implements the results last year’s federal government inquiry conducted by Lance Wright QC and Professor Michael Quinlan.

That inquiry called for a national scheme establishing safe rates covering both employee and owner-drivers, including the establishment of client accountability. The Wright and Quinlan review reported that low rates of pay in the industry forced unsafe work practices.

“Truck drivers need to be able to obtain a safe rate of pay, including pay for waiting times and paying all maintenance costs on their vehicles,” said Mr Sheldon. “This will reduce the road toll and we will be taking this to the Council.”

The TWU said it also welcomed other funding measures for road transport workers in the federal Budget, including $20 million for new and refurbished rest stops and parking bays and $8.5 billion on nationally significant infrastructure projects.

“Unless there are better truck rest areas, drivers are forced to continue down the road until they can find a place to pull over. We need this in place so drivers can get quality rest and fight fatigue on our roads,” Mr Sheldon said.

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