The new governement-provided hotline will offer financial advice to owner-drivers
The federal government has set up a special temporary hotline through the Department of Social Services to offer “targeted advice” to owner-drivers who have been negatively affected by the Contractor Driver Minimum Payments Road Safety Remuneration Order 2016 (RSRO).
Contractor-drivers can call the free hotline 1800 007 007 for advice on financial issues related to the ‘safe rates’ RSRO.
It is unclear how the advice offered to callers on this hotline will be different from advice offered by the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) – the body that has been responsible for educating and providing assistance to the industry on all matters related to the Order.
The FWO would not comment on the subject, however, it notes that it will continue to provide education, advice, and assistance to those affected by the Order.
In February, the FWO informed Owner//Driver that it had taken charge of educating and providing assistance to the industry on all matters related to the Order.
The FWC has a role to “monitor and ensure compliance with the Act [Road Safety Remuneration Act 2012] and any enforceable instruments made pursuant to the Act”, a Fair Work spokesperson said earlier.
Owner//Driver is awaiting comments from the Department of Social Services and the Department of Employment in this matter.
Meanwhile, the Coalition government is preparing to introduce two bills related to the Roads Safety Remuneration Order (RSRT) when the Parliament resumes next week.
The first bill will propose the abolition of RSRT and the second bill will propose the Order be suspended until January 1 next year.