Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Hansard source

Thanks to Senator Sterle, who certainly knows more than most in this chamber about the needs of truckies around Australia. The truth is that without truckies and their drivers, the movement of essential supplies across Australia stops. That's why we want truckies to get a fair go. It's why the Albanese government has passed significant reforms to ensure that our road transport industry is strong and resilient for Australia's future. We're cracking down on sham contracting, and we increased the penalties for employers who dodge their obligations to their employees. Unlike the Liberals, the Nationals and One Nation, who oppose those changes, the Albanese Labor government has always backed our trucking industry and the workers who are delivering essential goods across Australia.

Under the current legislation, the Fair Work Commission must consult for a minimum of six months when setting contract chain orders, which ensure that truckies get safe and secure rates of pay. This government recognises that with the ongoing war in the Middle East resulting in volatile fuel prices, the commission needs the power to respond more quickly to contract chain order applications to ensure that trucking companies and owner-operators are not left to absorb these costs on their own.

In good news for the industry, this Labor government is taking swift and decisive action to do exactly this. Earlier this week, we announced that we will be introducing an amendment to the Fair Work Act to establish an urgent pathway for truckies to argue for their fair share at the Fair Work Commission. This is so truckies and transport operators aren't left to worry about managing rising costs on their own. It's critical that the costs of rising fuel prices are shared fairly throughout the supply chain so our truckies and transport businesses can remain viable.

Next week, when this legislation comes on for debate, we'll get to see how much the Liberals, the Nationals and One Nation are actually willing to help Australians who are facing fuel price rises. They've had a lot to say about it. The question is whether they will act. (Time expired)