Shayne Neumann (Blair, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. How is the Albanese Labor government continuing to back Australia's trucking industry?

Amanda Rishworth (Kingston, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Blair for his question and for his ongoing commitment to Australia's trucking industry and, of course, many of the truck drivers as well. Our road transport industry is vital to keeping our nation's economy moving. Without trucks and their drivers, the movement of essential supplies across Australia would stop.

We know that the conflict in the Middle East is putting pressure on Australians, including on Australia's transport industry and Australian truck drivers. Our government is taking practical measures to shield Australian households and Australian businesses from the worst of the impacts of the war in the Middle East, including our truck drivers. This, of course, includes National Cabinet's national fuel security plan, the announcement that our government will reduce the heavy vehicle charge to zero and halve the fuel excise for three months, along with deferring the next scheduled increase in the heavy vehicle road user charge for six months. These measures are important to help reduce the cost for the trucking industries and owner-operators around the country.

The Albanese Labor government is also taking action to ensure the cost pressures in relation to fuel are shared fairly throughout the transport industry supply chain. That's why we have amended the Fair Work Act to enable the Fair Work Commission to respond more quickly to contract chain order applications in time-sensitive circumstances. This is to ensure that trucking companies and owner-operators are not left to absorb the cost pressures on their own. This measure delivers a fair go for our transport industry. This has been widely welcomed by transport industry representatives along with unions.

This important legislation is currently before the Senate, and I would urge all senators to listen to the calls from truck drivers and the trucking industry, and pass this legislation as a matter of urgency. Peter Anderson, CEO of the Victorian Transport Association, who is in parliament today, has called for support for this legislation and said that this amendment will bring certainty and direct support to all road freight operators throughout Australia. Bikram, an owner-driver from Brisbane, said that we need this legislation. Australian Trucking Industry CEO Mathew Munro said:

The Senate must pass the bill as it stands before it rises for … Easter …

Our government is taking urgent action to support Australia's trucking industry, and our government will continue to take practical action for our trucking industry.