TURNBULL MUST ACT TO STOP EXPLOITATION OF TIP TOP DRIVERS

Reports on ABC’s 7.30 detail the exploitation of Tip Top owner drivers, enabled by Turnbull and his Liberals’ decision last year to abolish the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT), which would have dealt with such appalling conduct.

Owner drivers have come forward claiming they have faced pay cuts of up to $1000 per week, overwhelming stress, relentless working hours and even the death of one driver.

One Tip Top driver revealed he drove for four hours last Anzac Day and was paid just $23.

The safety of these drivers along with the safety on our roads is at risk, and they have no independent tribunal to resolve their problem.

Malcolm Turnbull was reckless in abolishing the RSRT. The Tribunal was established specifically to reduce accidents which cause death and serious injury.

According to the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics, fatal crashes involving articulated trucks have increased by 9.4 per cent this year.

Turnbull and his Liberals must refocus on road safety and safety in our trucking industry.

It is unacceptable that this Government removed an independent body that addressed the pressure on truck drivers to speed or cut corners to earn a living wage.

Turnbull and his Liberals have no policy plan to deal with this.

Labor doesn’t want to see people dying on our roads and the facts are that when truck drivers are overworked safety for all road users is jeopardised.