WA Transport History

The History of the West Australian Road Transport Industry

By Russell McKinnon

1985

Sicnag, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

It was reported to the May 30 Executive Council Meeting that the State Government was intending to proceed with legislation to introduce a licensing fee for inter-State operators. The fee was likely to be $1700 per vehicle, which would include $300 for insurance. The fee would be levied as a charge for road use and would be allocated to the States for road funding via a trust fund. The Association had opposed the concept of operator licensing.

The Liberal Party’s Shadow Minister for Transport, Peter Jones, said in a speech to the Chartered Institute of Transport on June 11 that the Liberals were committed to the deregulation of all road transport and the ending of the WA Coastal Shipping Commission. This was lauded by the Executive Council.

Mrs M Holland retired from the Association office on June 20 after 10 years’ service and was replaced by Mrs Isabelle Freeman.

It was reported in the West Australian of July 16 that Westrail’s expenditure

The Livestock Transporters’ Association of WA had voted for the establishment of a Federal body. WARTA and the LTA decided to have a close working relationship, especially when it came to fuel pricing policy

had increased $11.9 million (4.9 percent) because of higher salaries and wages and other extra costs in handling grain.

The Transport Commission sent a letter to the Association, dated August 16, that as from August 1, Westrail services on the Alumina Junction-Dwellingup, WonnerupNannup and Busselton-Capel branch lines had closed and the South Busselton Road Transport Area implemented.

The Livestock Transporters’ Association of WA had voted for the establishment of a Federal body. WARTA and the LTA decided to have a close working relationship, especially when it came to fuel pricing policy.

The Annual General Meeting was staged on August 29 and no election was necessary with the correct number for the positions available. The other major item, besides several constitutional adjustments, was a plea from C J Sheppard regarding the effectiveness of the Association’s membership card to gain access to such sites as the Burrup Peninsula.

Westrail gained a seat on the Tender Review (Grain By Road) Committee and announced its intention to quote on the total movement of the grain harvest, both by rail and road.

President D N Gilham was elected a Vice-President of the ARTF at the Annual Conference in Tasmania.

WARTA engaged Convention Makers to oversee the organisation of the 1986 ARTF Convention in Perth.

In the period June 21, 1985 until December 6, 1985, it was reported that local transport costs had increased 4.7 percent and long-distance transport 4.45 percent.

Trouble in the Bus Division arose at the end of the year. A West Australian newspaper article of December 16, 1985, titled “Row brewing over WA school buses”, had comments by Mr J Jury criticising WARTA. Mr Jury had been elected chairman of a new group called the Bus Owners’ Action Group. Mr Jury and P M Masson were summoned to appear before the committee. Mr Masson, who had been recommended for censure by the School Bus Division, arrived, was given 35 minutes to put his case, and after some discussion was told he had acted “contrary to the best interests of the Association” and summarily struck from the roll. Mr Jury could not make the meeting. He fronted the Executive Council on January 20 and no further action was taken.

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