The Albanese Labor Government's world-leading Closing Loopholes reforms are already beginning to create a safer and fairer road transport industry for Australian workers.
Last year, the Albanese Government gave the Fair Work Commission the power to set enforceable minimum standards for 'employee-like' workers in the gig economy and road transport workers, including matters like rates of pay, cost recovery and consultation, as part of the historic reforms.
The road transport industry united like never before in support of these reforms, involving thousands of transport workers, employers and employer associations, small businesses, industry stakeholders and experts, as well as a unanimous industry roundtable, calling for changes to relieve dangerous and unfair pressures on workers.
The Transport Workers' Union's Road Transport Industry delegation is at Parliament House this week to seek confirmation from all sides of politics that these reforms will be kept in place after the upcoming election.
The first applications for the road transport industry have been submitted to the Fair Work Commission, with industry consultation well underway, the applications will help to lift standards for its 600,000 workers.
Applications currently before the Fair Work Commission are seeking a range of new standards, including:
- Fairer payment terms, with maximum 30-day payment terms to relive pressure for businesses struggling with extended payment times;
- Parcel delivery standards to deliver minimum standards in parcel delivery to stop exploitative practices from companies; and
- Rights for gig workers through minimum standards to ensure decent pay and conditions for gig workers.
In 2024, there were 57 truck driver deaths, as well as 19 food delivery rider deaths since 2017, proving a safer, fairer road transport industry is desperately needed.
After a decade of inaction from the former Coalition Government, these applications mark the beginning of real, sustainable change for the industry.
From 26 February this year, the Albanese Government will also make it a requirement for truckies and gig workers to be given a fair process before their contracts are terminated through the new Digital Labour Platform Deactivation Code and the Road Transport Industry Termination Code.
Both digital and trucking businesses will still be able to terminate a workers' contract or deactivate a worker for a valid reason relating to their capacity or conduct, but the unfair deactivation and termination protections will stop the undercutting of workers' pay, conditions and safety.
The Albanese Government will continue to fight for safer workplaces, more stable jobs and better pay for the millions of Australians going to work each day.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Murray Watt:
"These important reforms were another step in the Albanese Government's changes to ensure Australian workers have secure jobs and better pay.
"While we're working to ensure Australian workers have safe, stable and properly paid jobs, Peter Dutton and the Coalition are focused on taxpayer-funded long lunches that would cost Australians billions of dollars.
"They opposed every one of the steps we have taken for workers, and they've already promised to wind back many of our workplace reforms.
"Peter Dutton and the Coalition need to come clean on whether they will keep the Albanese Government's life-saving road transport industry reforms if they win this year's election."
Quotes attributable to Senator for New South Wales, Tony Sheldon:
"These reforms are a long-overdue step towards fairness for transport workers who've been left to fend for themselves for too long.
"Under the Albanese Government, we're putting an end to the deadly race to the bottom that's cost lives on our roads.
"Unlike Peter Dutton, we're delivering real cost-of-living relief with secure jobs and fair pay - not shouting billion-dollar long lunches on the taxpayer's dime.
"The Liberals and Nationals have opposed every reform to lift wages and improve conditions for working people and they're committed to driving down wages even further."
Quotes attributable to Transport Workers' Union National Secretary, Michael Kaine:
"A year on from the passage of Closing Loopholes and we are right on the precipice of life-saving change in the transport industry.
"At long last through this legislation we get to save some lives and deal with the horrific unchecked dominance of gig behemoths and wealthy retailers that have driven transport into the ground. Friday is the line in the sand when we will start to rebuild.
"With new rights soon set to take effect and consultation beginning for first applications, in the very near future we'll see world-first rights for gig workers and deadly pressures eased on truck drivers and operators.
"There is no time to waste getting standards in place in road transport, and the entire industry has been working around the clock to get to this moment of seeing a world-class system implemented to save lives and businesses."
Quotes attributable to Australian Road Transport Industrial Organisation Secretary, Peter Anderson:
"After decades of the transport industry crying out for change, we've got a system that is about to commence transformative change for all stakeholders.
"As a member of the Road Transport Advisory Group with industry consultation beginning this Friday, I am looking forward to working with others who live and breathe road transport to put in place standards that make this industry better."
