Initiative is anticipated to be a step towards improving rest area facilities for truck drivers across Australia
The Federal Government has finalised the membership of the steering committee on the $140 million rest area initiative.
The committee is expected to guide the process which will give truck drivers a voice in shaping the projects which are funded through the initiative.
The government states that heavy vehicle drivers in Australia deserve access to the facilities they need when they need them, just like every other worker.
Senator Glenn Sterle, a former truck driver, will chair the committee. He will be joined by representatives of various road transport organisations. These include Michelle Harwood, executive director of the Tasmanian Transport Association, long term truck driver and former president of the Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association John Beer, Heather Jones who is a Western Australia Road Freight Industry Council member and co-founder of the Pilbara Heavy Haulage Girls, and road safety advocate and National Road Freighters Association (NRFA) president Rod Hannifey.
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John Beer, a veteran long-distance truck driver and former president of the ALRTA, will join the steering committee
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Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Senator Carol Brown, says the Heavy Vehicle Rest Area Initiative Steering Committee is the first step in delivering the Labor Government’s $140 million initiative.
“Drivers like Rod Hannifey, who has driven more than six million kilometres, or the circumference of Australia more than 40,000 times, will offer invaluable insights.
“Along with chair and former truck driver, Senator Glenn Sterle, I look forward to working with the steering committee to deliver new and improved heavy vehicle rest areas across the country,” Senator Brown says.
Other steering committee representatives include Paul Ryan who is a board member of Healthy Heads in Trucks and Sheds, long-term owner-driver Kellie Boland, experienced long-haul driver Bruce Skelton, heavy vehicle driver and NRFA board member Craig Forsyth, and former Australian Trucking Association council representative Frank Black.
Senator Sterle says he is thrilled to be a part of the Albanese Government which is delivering for the transport industry and its essential truckies.
“The announcement of the membership of the steering committee means that we can now get to work to deliver meaningful outcomes for truck drivers,” the Senator says.
“Key to that success is utilising the experience, insight and knowledge of the truck drivers and road safety advocates on the committee and I can’t wait to get to work.
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“I’d like to thank every driver who took time out of their busy schedule to complete an expression of interest to be a part of this process and offer my congratulations to those who have been selected,” Glenn Sterle says.
The steering committee will meet for the first time in February.