SENATOR GLENN STERLE LABOR SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Labor’s Shadow Assistant Minister for Road Safety, Senator Glenn Sterle convened a national forum in Canberra today to address challenges within the transport industry.
The Transport Industry Standards Forum was attended by more than 70 representatives from across the transport industry including owner drivers, state based and national transport associations, representative bodies, employers, transport companies and unions.
“It was a pleasure to host the Transport Industry Standards Forum in Canberra today where we had over 70 industry representatives attending to represent the transport industry,” Senator Sterle said.
“Every state from across the country was represented at the forum today and the range of the people in the room covered more than 2,000 years of industry experience.
“Each participant whether they were representing a transport organisation, association, employer group, retailer, union or their own small business had an opportunity to raise their concerns with the transport industry at present.
“The challenges discussed covered driver shortages within the trucking industry, payment terms, taxation, fair remuneration and a real problem with encouraging young people to seek employment within the transport industry.
“The forum also dedicated a significant amount of time working through the Labor party’s policy, which was endorsed unanimously at the ALP’s recent National Conference in December, to legislate for a national system of Safe Rates consisting of an independent body with responsibility for safe standards of work including fair payments and conditions.
“This system will be legislated under a Shorten Labor Government, however Labor will work with all participants to achieve the best possible legislation for our industry going forward.
“Labor looks forward to continuing to work with all of the participants who attended today and their respective organisations to ensure that our transport industry remains viable and safe,” said Senator Sterle.
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TRANSPORT INDUSTRY STANDARDS FORUM
20 March 2019