FAIR WORK SET TO MAKE EMERGENCY ORDER ON TRANSPORT FUEL CRISIS

The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has today issued a draft order following the TWU and ARTIO’s application for urgent action to assist drivers and transport operators with skyrocketing fuel prices, with a published timeline indicating a final order could be made before a looming fuel debt cliff of 21 April.

With further consultation to take place this Thursday and Friday, the order would require clients of road transport providers to pay enough for owner drivers and transport businesses to cover skyrocketing fuel prices, with fortnightly reviews.

Many drivers and transport operators are already at crisis point with huge fuel bills looming, piling on pressure to rush and delay vehicle maintenance.

With some retailers like Woolworths and Uber already moving to increase frequency of fuel levies and up relief, the transport industry now calls on transport clients across the board to support this draft order to prevent mass transport business closures and supply chain chaos.

Already this year, 46 people have died in truck crashes on Australian roads, including 15 truck drivers, and transport company liquidations have shot up 48% from the last year.

The TWU, as well as peak transport employer body ARTIO, have jointly called for action over the past several weeks to assist drivers and transport operators:

March 16: Initially called on Fair Work Commission to urgently bring the transport industry together

March 23: Then called on Federal Government to pass laws to allow urgent Fair Work Commission orders in road transport, to expedite the process

April 2: Once laws were passed, TWU and ARTIO, and supported by the NRFA, made an emergency application in FWC to call for fuel costs to be paid by the retailers, manufacturers and mining companies at the top of the supply chain, calling on Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth to use new emergency powers to expedite the process

April 10: Minister Rishworth makes declaration that the application is an emergency and can be fast-tracked through the FWC

TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said:

“We are now incredibly close to seeing real relief for the transport industry after weeks of uncertainty and huge financial pressure, with a draft order from the Fair Commission ready to be put in place. We need to see this draft order quickly turned into reality ahead of a debt cliff on 21 April for fuel bills that have never been this high.

“Without this order it’s not a case of transport businesses making less profit, like it is for major retailers – it’s mass trucking businesses going under, and supply chain chaos. That’s why we need the top of the supply chain to pay for these increases, which drivers and transport businesses simply cannot absorb. We urge these supply chain clients to support this draft order which will be able to flex fuel cost recovery up and down as the situation continues.

ARTIO National Secretary Peter Anderson said:

“For as long as this crisis continues, we need to make sure our road transport industry is sustainable and viable, not at imminent risk of widespread business collapse. This order would go a long way to making sure the industry can continue through the peaks and troughs we will no doubt see in coming weeks and months.

“We need clients of transport to come to the party, support this draft order, and get proper cost recovery in place as quickly as possible to keep supply chains going.

NRFA President Glyn Castanelli said:

“Our main concern is the fuel bill cliff looming on the 21st of this month, when last month’s fuel accounts fall due.

“Having the order in place won’t help operators pay that bill, but it will give the industry some confidence that if they can get through this, there is a path to recovering fuel costs going forward.

“Right now, operators are being asked to find a way to pay bills they can’t afford, while still not running a profitable business. That’s a very difficult position to be in, and it’s why this decision is so important.”