CHRISTMAS stocks face delays owing to delays at the New South Wales – Victorian border, the Transport Workers’ Union is warning about delays to stock for Christmas as trucks again face delays because of border closures.
According to the union, truck drivers have faced up to five hours of delays entering Victoria as confusion mounts over permits for freight and as authorities fail to open truck lanes.
TWU NSW branch secretary Richard Olsen said the union had serious concerns about what was occurring.
“We are seeing trucks backed up trying to cross the border and we know this means disrupted supply chains which could threaten shops getting goods in time for Christmas,” he said.
“We are also seriously concerned about drivers left to wait at the border and how that impacts on their fatigue. We do not want to see tragedies emerge on the roads because of delays to trucks.”
TWU Victoria and Tasmania Branch Secretary John Berger said the lack of a national plan on freight movements was threatening supplies and safety.
“We have been living with COVID since March and have endured various border closures yet we still do not have a national plan in place to allow trucks to move,” he said.
“There should be a plan formulated at the national level to allow truck drivers to do their jobs as essential workers.”
TWU national secretary Michael Kaine said the federal government devised a national code on freight movement which clearly had failed.
