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

Through the chair, I would like to explain to the minister exactly how it happens. It is fantastic that the trucking industry attracts true people—people who are true to their word and are the salt of the earth. Unfortunately these people get tricked, conned or misled. They may work for an employer as a company driver on all the right rates of pay, conditions and superannuation and with the protection of unions that go with awards. Then the boss comes out one day and says to the truckies: ‘Boys, gather around. We’re going to put in a bid for this you-beaut contract. We’re going to be running up to the north. We’re going to have 40, 50, 60 trailers a week; freezers; general; chillers; car carrying—the whole lot is all rolled into one. We need trucks. We need trailers. We can’t get the money from the board. Who wants to be a subbie? You’ve been driving for us for 10 years. You know we’re decent; you know we’re respectful; you know we won’t let you down.’ A lot of times truck drivers have done that, but unfortunately they have gone out on the word of their manager, which most of the time has been honourable, but it is not honourable in three, four or five years time. I notice that the minister is not even listening. The minister has his head firmly planted in the sand, and he is not even going to take advice from people who know what they are talking about—