Lisa Chesters (Bendigo, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I wanted to ask the ministers here present a few questions in relation to the safe rates and the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal. I understand that it fits under the portfolio of Minister Abetz, but I do know that Minister Truss is consulted about the proposal around the government's plan to scrap the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal. We on this side believe that it is vital to keep the safe rates tribunal going, because it is about ensuring safety and safe rates on our roads. It is about ensuring that our drivers, as well as road users, continue to have safe roads.

We already know that 300 people involved in accidents on our major highways lose their lives each year, particularly in the regions where they are involved in accidents with trucks. Within my own electorate, we have already had a few fatalities this year on the Calder and alternate Calder. Tragically, we have already lost a few lives of individuals involved in accidents. We have also heard from truck drivers in the region about the pressures that they are under to get product to port quicker.

Given that this government is claiming to be the government for infrastructure, that they want to invest in our roads and build our roads, is the minister aware whether the government have committed to scrap their plan for the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal, which is about ensuring that our roads, which are a workplace, are safe and that our drivers are not put under pressure to get product to port. Can the government today rule out scrapping the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal? Can the minister commit his support to the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal, which will ensure that our roads continue to be safe, and will become safe workplaces, for the many people involved in the trucking industry?

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