Danger money decried by ATA
The Australian Trucking Association's (ATA) owner-driver representative says ‘danger pay’ for truck drivers would leave them worse off.
Logistics industry veteran Steve Corcoran recently proposed a $100 daily tax-free allowance to cover the risks of the job for drivers.
But the ATA’s Frank Black says it will not work.
“I think you just need to have a safe, sustainable rate. That’s what you need to have,” Black told industry reporters.
“To me, if we’ve got safe and sustainable rates, if guys are being paid properly that will make their jobs safer. I don’t think there needs to be an extra fee.”
Mr Black’s stance matches that of the Transport Workers Union (TWU), which wants the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT) to set minimum rates for contracted drivers so that they are paid enough to maintain their trucks and do their jobs safely.
The RSRT is in discussions with industry representatives on possible remuneration reforms.
Mr Black says while the work is important, he would like a proper resolution soon.
“The more delay there is and the more mucking around there is, the more lives are lost,” he says.
“I would like to see the tribunal move along a little quicker… I would like to see them set minimum rates. I really think that is going to go a long way to saving a lot of lives.”