Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to talk about the need for a fair deal and a level playing field for road transport workers, small transport companies and owner-drivers right across this country. The crisis faced by transport workers in this country has led to hundreds of businesses being forced to close their doors and led to workers leaving the industry or, worse, dying on our roads. Transport workers deserve better, and they deserve a fair day's pay for a fair day's work.

Today I met with transport workers and business operators struggling to stay afloat in an industry under increasing pressure. I met with James Scott, an employee driver. James is a father of three from my home state of Tasmania who has worked in the road transport industry for 20 years. One of the things he wants changed is the creeping in of lower safety standards for drivers. This is happening because of gig workers and the standards accepted by Uber and other drive-sharing and delivery companies.

Most recently we heard of the sickening incident and death of Burak Dogan, a gig economy worker. The 30-year-old student and Uber Eats rider was struck by a truck. At the same time he laid dead, stuck under the wheel, he received two further delivery requests from the app. I commend the Transport Workers Union and its national secretary Michael Kaine for advocating for this man's family, who rightly deserve compensation.

The transport industry can no longer afford to be pushing down wages and leaving the industry at breaking point. This is why the Albanese government this week introduced reforms to give the Fair Work Commission the power to set minimum standards for hundreds of thousands of employee-like workers on digital platforms and apps. There is nothing more important than safety and fairness in this country, and we will stand up for those workers each and every day.