The Australian Logistics Council (ALC) has used a federal government push to cut regulatory burden as a platform to try and close down the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT).

The RSRT was set up to create protections for transport workers’ safety, pay rates, working conditions and to resolve disputes.

The ALC has been opposed to the Tribunal since the start, calling it “a significant legislative over-reach by former Government”.

The Commission has made a submission to the Department of Employment’s review of the RSRT, announced by Employment Minister Eric Abetz two months ago. It says the RSRT is a prime candidate for the guillotine of deregulation on the Government’s ‘Repeal Day’ this March.

“The Legislation duplicates obligations already contained in workplace health and safety laws – which require a person conducting a business or undertaking to follow the As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP) concept – as well as modern industrial awards made by Fair Work Australia,” ALC Managing Director Michael Kilgariff said.

“Industry has spent many years working with Government on the creation of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, which is due to formally commence on 14 February 2014 and is to administer the Heavy Vehicle National Law.

“That law establishes a national approach to chain of responsibility, which places obligations on all responsible persons in the supply chain, which will ultimately be administered by the National Regulator.

“ALC believes that the developing expertise of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, Chain of Responsibility obligations established by the Heavy Vehicle National Law, Work Health and Safety laws, and the National Logistics Safety Code of Practice are the key to improving safety in the industry – which has improved over the last decade.

“Adding another arm of regulation by Fair Work Australia will not deliver a safer industry and will just undermine efficiency and impose needless costs on Australia’s supply chains,” Mr Kilgariff said.