SAFETY must be prioritised during the busy Easter period the Transport Workers Union says, drawing attention to a number of truck crashes during March.
Transport Workers Union national secretary Michael Kaine said “the skewed belief that speedy delivery is more important than road safety is exacerbated at busy periods like the Easter break”.
“We urge the wealthy companies at the top of supply chains to ease the pressure on truck drivers and ensure there is enough money in the pot for trucks to be properly maintained and goods to be delivered safely,” he said.
Mr Kaine criticised the federal government for abolishing the old Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal, a contentious call as the RSRT was itself criticised for infringing on the rights of owner drivers.
“We’ve had three years without anything in its place to protect our truck drivers and our road users,” Mr Kaine said.
