The Heavy Vehicle Rest Area Steering Committee held its first meeting in February amid negativity from online trolls
The Heavy Vehicle Rest Area Steering Committee held its first meeting in Canberra on February 20 and 21 as the first step in an initiative to make life easier for long-haul truck drivers.
Chaired by Senator Glenn Sterle, the committee included members most affected by the shortage and poor conditions of truck rest areas. These included Rod Hannifey, John Beer, Kellie Boland, Bruce Skelton, Frank Black, Heather Jones and Craig Forsyth.
Also on the committee were Michelle Harwood representing the Australian Trucking Association, and Healthy Heads in Trucks and Sheds board member Paul Ryan.
Assistant Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Carol Brown, stated that it was a privilege to attend part of the first day of the committee’s meeting.
“The shared knowledge and experience of members of the committee will deliver heavy vehicle rest areas in the most efficient locations,” the minister said.
Hannifey, a long-time safety advocate and president of the National Road Freighters Association, believed that overall, the meeting went well.
“Of course we want to fix everything yesterday, like everybody else wants, but we can’t because the way it’s been set up.
“It’s government and you know that they have to dot the ‘I’s and cross the ‘T’s.”
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John Beer, representing the Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association, echoed Hannifey’s views.
“The feeling is, from personal point of view, we’ve had a day and a half and this is an opportunity to make sure we can make it work,” Beer says, who adds that he was honoured to have been asked to be included on the committee.
“I know there’s a lot of talk going on out there about shiny arses,” he adds, referring to the committee selection process. “But I’m no shiny arse.”
Hannifey says he is aware that, due to slow pace of the initiative, Australian truck drivers will be quick to spruik that “nothing’s changed”.
“And they’re right, nothing’s changed on the day. But it’s the first time we’ve ever been there to have a say.
“It will take time to get it done and I believe in the end we will provide better facilities.”
The committee will gather for another meeting following consultation on the finalisation of rest area guidelines which Hannifey and Beer believe will be later in March.
Hannifey says while there will be some frustration, he says the outlook is positive.
“We have a 20 year deficit in getting things done, but now we’re at the table and the money is there.”
John Beer put it succinctly. “It’s an opportunity we can’t let go.”
Photography: Greg Bush