Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's a privilege to rise today to speak about my friend Louise Bilato, who recently stepped down as the executive officer of the Northern Territory Road Transport Association. I first met Louise around eight years ago after Bill Shorten appointed me shadow assistant minister for road safety. I was adamant about engaging with the leaders of transport associations around the country and met Louise in that capacity.

What became very clear to me early on was Louise's passion for road safety and, equally, the viability of the road transport industry. Louise attended numerous roundtables and meetings of road transport and road safety advocates, and Louise always spoke so passionately about the need to engage in conversation so that better outcomes could be delivered for truck drivers, road transport operators and general road users. While speaking for an interview in Outback Mag in 2020, Louise said the following about the job:

The job is very much about driver safety and welfare, supporting industry to be the best possible version of itself, and working closely with governments and other relevant agencies to identify ways to do things better.

She also said:

There's a lot of listening, lobbying, educating, negotiating and sharing of information. An important task is to articulate critical issues on the national stage so that remote Australia's voice isn't drowned out by big city issues.

This has been my experience of Louise; she's never afraid to speak her mind and say what needs to be said in the interests of our great industry.

Here are some words from another friend, Cam Dumesny from the Western Roads Federation:

On behalf of the Western Australian transport industry and the Australian transport industry more generally, I pay tribute to the outstanding contributions Louise has made to our industry especially for Remote and Northern Australia.

I have had the privilege of meeting a number of the Bilato family. What a magnificent family. All the strength to them.