The national secretary of the Transport Workers’ Union says the Federal Government plans to close the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal, showing contempt for the hundreds of families affected by transport industry road deaths, and callous disregard for the many pressures that drivers face.

Minister for Employment Eric Abetz announced a review of the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT) last week.

The Tribunal was set up to make sure truck drivers are paid adequately and avoid falling victim to the constant pressure to speed, overload or skip rest breaks to keep a timetable.

TWU secretary Tony Sheldon says Senator Abetz plans to close the Tribunal, regardless of the findings in the review.

“Road transport is Australia’s most dangerous industry, with 330 deaths in truck crashes last year,” Mr Sheldon said.

“Federal Government figures show truck drivers are ten times more likely to be killed in work accidents than those in other jobs.

“And we’re seeing more and more deaths as a result of speeding, fatigue and poor maintenance – caused by employers setting lunatic deadlines and keeping trucks on the road too long.

“The Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal is the way to bring this pressure to an end, and to save lives on our roads.

“Yet in a sneering press release, Minister Abetz dismisses the Safety Tribunal as a burden on business,” the Union official said.

In his announcement of the review, Employment Minister Eric Abetz said; 

“We want to establish whether there is sufficient evidence that a separate additional tribunal and a further level of regulation is the right way to improve safety on our roads.

“We are listening to concerns of the road transport industry that the work of the Tribunal could overlap with and undermine other regulation and may also impose onerous and unnecessary compliance burdens.”

But Mr Sheldon believes the review favours business over workers' rights

“The Minister needs to understand: safer roads are not a burden. They’re an obligation on government,” Sheldon said

“Abetz’s message to the families of crash victims is that road safety is too hard.

“We’ll be making clear to this Minister that road deaths, unfair pay and unsafe working conditions are not just red tape.

“And we’ll do that on behalf of drivers forced ... to speed or drive too long, and on behalf of the families of the 330 people killed last year in truck-related crashes.”

The TWU has indicated it will work with the Federal Opposition and minor parties within the Senate to try to block any repeal of the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal, if one is proposed.