‘The claims made in the TWU advertisement linking pay rates to road safety are incorrect – in fact, independent studies have found no link whatsoever between the safety of drivers and remuneration.’
Kate Carnell, the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman – ASBFEO – has condemned a Transport Workers Union – TWU – television advertisement linking rates of pay in the trucking industry to road fatalities, describing it as blatant scaremongering.
‘It’s a sad day when the serious issue of road safety is hijacked for political purposes,’ Ms Carnell said.
‘I’m horrified that they’d suggest small business owner-drivers are complicit in the deaths of children on our roads; it’s a reprehensible tactic and one that completely misrepresents the issue surrounding pay rates in the trucking industry.
‘It is deceitful, not to mention offensive to the thousands of mum and dad owner-drivers out there, many of whom have been forced to the wall financially as a result of the recent Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal’s – RSRT – Payments Order.
‘These owner-drivers have loved ones to support, and to suggest they’re putting children’s lives in danger by going out and doing an honest days’ work to provide for their families is reprehensible.
‘The claims made in the TWU advertisement linking pay rates to road safety are incorrect – in fact, independent studies have found no link whatsoever between the safety of drivers and remuneration. And there’s absolutely no evidence to suggest owner-operators are less safe than employed drivers.
‘There is however a clear link between the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal’s Payments Order and the financial hardship being experienced by many owner-truck drivers and their families as a result of its implementation,’ she said.
The ASBFEO is currently undertaking an inquiry into the impact the Payments Order has had on small businesses.
‘I’m going around the country and hearing first hand from owner-truck drivers and their families about their experiences before, during and after the Order was in place, and what they’re telling me is that the Order had significant – and in many cases ongoing – financial ramifications for their small businesses,’ Ms Carnell said.
Ms Carnell said road safety is vitally important for all road users.
‘Every road user has a duty to ensure they behave responsibly on our roads. We have an effective body here in Australia that is working hard to keep everyone safe; the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator – NHVR – is doing some outstanding work and is best placed to develop practical measures to help ensure the truck drivers who go out to work on our roads every day, get home safely to their families,’ Ms Carnell said.
