Fair Work Commission gets road transport powers

Under the bill, the Fair Work Commission will be able to issue road transport contractual chain orders, which will apply to businesses up and down the chain.

Following extensive discussions with the ATA and other industry bodies, a contractual chain order will be able to include terms about payment times, fuel levies, rate reviews, termination, including one way termination for convenience, and cost recovery.

ATA Chair David Smith said the ATA had worked hard and co-operatively with the Australian Government to ensure the commission’s new powers were workable and fair.

“We were not able to achieve our goal of restricting the commission from setting minimum rates. That argument will now need to be put to the commission as it considers applications for orders,” Mr Smith said.

“But we were able to secure legislation that will work and that could deliver better contract terms for owner drivers and trucking businesses.

“The commission will be required to have regard to the need to avoid adverse impacts on the sustainability, performance and competitiveness of supply chains and the national economy.

“In looking at road transport contractual chain orders, it will also need to have regard to the commercial realities of the road transport industry, including commercial practices in relation to part load, mixed load, no load, multi-leg and return trips.

“The bill will require a 12 month notice of intent period for any proposed order. There will be failsafe mechanisms including internal merits review and new rights for the minister or another party to seek a review of an order if significant new facts or evidence come to light.

“Contractual chain orders are intended to ensure that all parties are covered. We cannot afford a situation where some businesses regulated by the commission lose work to businesses that are not.

“Importantly, we were able to ensure that the commission will not become another safety regulator. The commission will not be able to make orders covering matters comprehensively dealt with under the Heavy Vehicle National Law or other relevant laws.

“I want to thank Minister Burke and his staff for considering our proposed changes on their merits.

“It’s now time for the trucking industry, the TWU and our customers to work together to consider the sort of orders that are needed to protect trucking businesses and owner drivers, without halting innovation or making it impossible to operate.

“The bill requires the commission to engage genuinely with the industry. If a proposed order is good for industry, it will not be opposed by affected operators,” Mr Smith said.

The Fair Work Commission will gain its new powers six months after the bill is signed by the Governor-General.