RSR Act and Tribunal: Ai speaks out

The Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) says it welcomes
today's release of the reports from two major inquiries into the Road Safety
Remuneration Act 2012 and Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal, both of which are
highly critical of the current system.

"Ai Group has consistently argued for the abolition of the
Act and Tribunal on the basis that the notion that paying truck drivers more or
differently will lead to fewer road accidents is flawed,” Ai Group Chief
Executive Innes Willox (pictured) said today.

"The RSR Act and Tribunal are imposing anti-competitive
arrangements on industry and are distracting Government and industry attention
and resources away from the measures which are widely recognised as improving
road safety. The arrangements also threaten jobs and work for contractor
drivers, as well as harm to regional and rural areas which are heavily reliant
on road transport.

"In contrast to the flawed RSR System, Ai Group strongly
supports the Heavy Vehicle National Law and the National Heavy Vehicle
Regulator which have the support of industry as well as Federal, State and
Territory Governments.

"In December last year, the RSR Tribunal made a Road Safety
Remuneration Order setting minimum rates for contractor drivers which is set to
come into operation on Monday, 4 April 2016.

"A few weeks ago Ai Group made an application to the RSR
Tribunal to delay the commencement date for the Order until 1 January next year
and to phase-in the minimum rates over three years. The application was heard
by the Tribunal on Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday. During the
proceedings, Ai Group reached a compromise position with the Transport Workers
Union to delay the operation of the minimum wage rates until 1 October 2016 and
to phase-in the new rates over the period up to 1 October 2017. The compromise position
has been proposed to the Tribunal and the decision is awaited. 

"Ai Group looks forward to participating in the Government’s
consultation process about the future of the RSR Act and Tribunal. We will
argue that the Act and Tribunal should be abolished without delay, with
attention re-focussed on measures that are widely recognised as improving
safety in the road transport industry such as improved roads, improved
compliance and use of technology,"  Mr
Willox said.