Wednesday, April 18, 2018

ACTU – Turnbull Ideologues and mounting Road Death Toll

18 April 2018

Crashes and fatigue increasing as truck drivers mark second anniversary of Turnbull scrapping Road Safety and Remuneration Tribunal

Three hundred and sixty-one people have died in truck crashes since the Turnbull Government bowed to ideologues and put politics before safety. In NSW in 2017 40% of all workplace deaths involved a transport worker. Since the watchdog was shut down there has been a 92% increase in truck crashes in NSW.

Truck drivers are rallying today to mark two years since the Turnbull Government scrapped the road safety watchdog, as rates of crashes and fatalities in the industry shoot up more than 90% in some states.

The Australian union movement campaigned against reducing regulation and oversight in the industry in 2016, but the Turnbull Government scrapped an agency designed to keep truck drivers and other road users safe.

Details of rallies are below:
  • SYDNEY: Aldi Darlinghurst, corner Oxford St & Pelican St. 10.30am
  • MELBOURNE: Aldi CBD, Franklin Street. 11am
  • ADELAIDE: Aldi West Lakes, 44 Frederick Road, West Lakes. 11am
  • BRISBANE: Aldi Cooparoo, 296 Old Cleveland Rd. 11.45am
  • PERTH: Aldi Dog Swamp Shopping Centre, 6 Wanneroo Road. 9am

Quotes attributable to ACTU Secretary Sally McManus:
  • “The Road Safety and Remuneration Tribunal was set up to keep truck drivers safe and to protect everyone who uses our roads. In scrapping it the Turnbull Government put ideology ahead of safety.
  • “Since Turnbull scrapped the RSRT we have seen more deaths, more crashes, and more fatigued drivers being pushed to breaking point by a broken system.
  • “Fatigued drivers and increased fatalities are a symptom of the Turnbull Government walking away from its responsibility to keep drivers safe.
  • “We need to change the rules so that all Australian workers are safe in their workplaces and have the power to stand up for their rights. That includes an immediate restoration of the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal”


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