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

I will blue you; I will debate you! Don't flood it with the likes of Ken Phillips. Don't flood the meeting with the likes of the Australian Trucking Association—and out of respect, Madam Acting Deputy President, I will leave it there. There is the challenge, Senator Abetz. While Senator Abetz was playing kiddie politics in the Liberal Party in the Tasmanian university, or wherever he went, I was playing with road trains. Bring it on, Senator Abetz!

It is a happy night. I am happy. I am so happy that I cannot stop laughing. For that, I want to express my sincere thanks to the hardworking men and women in our trucking industry. I look up into the gallery at that young good-looking rooster in the blue shirt there, Mr Frank Black, an owner-driver, a bloke like me—no, a bloke better than me. He is still out there peddling. I have long hung up the riding boots; I surrendered. Frank is still going. Frank was interviewed on numerous television programs, and I watched them, and there were numerous news articles. Frank represents owner-drivers on the Australian Trucking Association Safety Council, I think it is—and if it is not, we will correct the record. He is a man who has been at the forefront of the fight for decency and safety and a proper remuneration for Australia's trucking fraternity. I dip my hat to you, Frank. I know you have been here for the last two days but you have also been here on numerous other occasions. I have met with Frank in Queensland, convincing owner-drivers that, if you want to get home safely and if you want to see your kids get through school and graduate and make a decent living, you have to be remunerated for your efforts. Not only is there the cost of running your truck, fixed and variable, but you must also have a safe and sustainable rate.

We should be proud of Australia's truck drivers. We are not embarrassed to be truckies. We are not embarrassed that we did not go to university. We are not embarrassed because we do not carry around some piece of paper with a lovely red ribbon on it that says, 'Aren't I wonderful? I went to TAFE college.' I do not have that. I have got a heart the size of a lion and I have got a road train licence. I have got my union card in my pocket and no-one is getting that from me.

I want to sincerely congratulate and thank the leadership of the Transport Workers Union while I am at it—and may I declare, in case someone out there in Liberal land missed it, that I am a proud member of the Transport Workers Union and I have been a proud member for 30 years. I joined the Transport Workers Union in 1981 as a young owner-driver. Actually, hang on; let us go back a bit. I actually joined the Transport Workers Union as a young 16-year-old cocky in 1976 when I first walked through the doors of Ansett Wridgways—and they may have been just Wridgways back then. I was told, 'We should be in the union, boy.'

Senator Edwards interjecting—

Through you, Madam Acting Deputy President, you can carry on. Don't be a smart-A, mate! If you want to have a bubble about road safety, take it outside! I will carry this on. You are not that smart.