RECOMMENDATIONS FROM INDUSTRY

We continue to see reports, and surveys from the transport industry and the one common theme is the alarming state of the transport industry.

The Senate committee into a viable, safe, sustainable, and efficient transport industry handed down a series of recommendations to industry in August that if they are all adopted, will go a long way to improving and making the transport industry sustainable. Senator Glenn Sterle chaired the committee that heard from industry stakeholders and stories from truck drivers and transport workers that’ll shape a better industry.

Owner drivers, companies, company drivers, unions, associations, the big end of town and insurers all were part of the consultation process to understand the major issues and what needs changing to ensure our industry survives.

One after the other over decades University studies, driver surveys Government reports Parliamentary committees all say the same thing the transport industry is dangerous and in a crisis. And time after time governments do nothing. Must we get to where they are in the UK before something changes? They are in a crisis that has led to the military needing to intervene to deliver fuel.

There’s no shortage of fuel in the country but there are difficulties transporting it due to a lack of drivers.

Their problem isn’t just Brexit, leaving the EU, an exodus of foreign workers and a shortage of drivers, or supply chain issues linked to Covid.

It’s a lack of care and respect for the job truck drivers do.

“Not everyone can be a qualified professional truck driver. It takes years of training, education, and dedication, and it’s about time these attributes were recognised.

Governments, or should I say politicians, at the whim of big business continue to look at the easy option in importing foreign labour. This is not the answer, it is a short-sighted view, and it is dangerous.

The TWU has been banging on about this for years and it is good to see we are having some success with the WA State Government spending around $50 million this current budget and the next budget in upgrading and building new truck parking amenities.

We need to improve nutrition and mental health for truck drivers. Federal and state governments need to do more.

The TWU continues to campaign to and improve safety and conditions for truck drivers in the transport industry. Because if we don’t, it won’t be long until the same issues that are happening in the UK happen in Australia.

At the WA Labor State Conference, the TWU changed the party platform with several motions. Making proactive changes to the Government’s agenda is one of the ways in which the TWU lobbies for the best interest of our membership.

You can read these motions in full on the next page.

These are not new solutions, but they are solutions to problems that if nothing is done about now, things will likely get worse, adopting these recommendations will ensure our industry will keep moving.