MINISTER for Transport and Infrastructure Anthony Albanese claims the
planned truck shutdown by the Australian Long Distance Owner Drivers Association (ALDODA) will undermine the safety of drivers.
The ALDODA and Mick Pattel are demanding changes to the fuel excise and the abolishment of fatigue laws.
According to Albanese, the organisers of the stop-work will not be helped by threatening to stem supplies to supermarkets. He also said the absence of fatigue laws would allow truck drivers to be pressured into driving longer hours, resulting in safety risks to everyone on the roads.
The fatigue laws had also been challenged on the basis of there not being enough rest areas. The minister admitted an insufficient number of rest areas, but said that was not a good reason to scrap the laws.
The shutdown organisers have copped criticism from the
Transport Workers Union, which claims their actions are not constructive. The
Queensland Trucking Association and the
South Australian Road Transport Association have also refused to support the shutdown.
