The Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) is the latest industry body to come out against the federal opposition’s proposed fuel excise halving.
The TWU has slammed federal opposition leader Peter Dutton’s claim that the fuel excise cut would benefit truck drivers, saying it mirrors former Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s similar plan that left drivers worse off.
Under Morrison, the Coalition cut the fuel excise but at the same time took away Fuel Tax Credits which help reduce fuel costs for truck drivers.
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The TWU says this created an immense imbalance in the freight industry, with operators having to either increase rates to customers, or face losing contracts because of increasingly low-cost directives from clients.
TWU national secretary Michael Kaine says Dutton has provided no detail on his proposal, with the road transport industry warning it will once again leave the transport industry worse off.
“Dutton’s claim that his proposal will help truck drivers is just another sleight-of-hand announcement that will actually leave the industry worse off,” Kaine says.
“Dutton voted against laws that the entire transport industry were backing to save lives and businesses. He can’t be trusted to have the backs of the men and women who keep Australia moving.”
Kaine says transport reform laws passed by the Albanese government – and opposed by the Coalition – are already creating positive change in the industry, with stronger contract protections for owner drivers and gig workers, and consultation underway for applications that will lift standards across road transport.
“Just in the course of this election campaign we’ve seen Dutton go back and forth on significant issues. We know that many of the laws this industry has won under the Albanese government are under threat with a Dutton government,” he says.
“Transport reform laws passed by the Albanese government are already changing the industry for the better, and over time they will reform the industry so that it is safer and fairer. We can’t afford to lose that significant progress under Dutton, with industry-wide consultation underway as we speak.”
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