Media Release

Today the Federal Member for Kennedy, Bob Katter stood with a rally of concerned truckies in Townsville to repeal the new charge rates and regulations proposed by the federal Road Safety Tribunal.

Today’s rally in Townsville with following truck convoy is one of many protests around the country organised by concerned owner-driver truck operators who will be rendered uncompetitive if the tribunal’s new charge rates and regulations are brought in.

“The tribunal has been set up to see over road safety has made a massive error.” said Mr Katter.

“The federal court has accepted the case against the tribunal. I’ve never heard of this happening before. Where you’ve got a federal court questioning a tribunal – you’ve got serious problems.”

At today’s rally, Mr Katter backed trucking industry association calls for a government enquiry into the tribunal:

“I call for a full blooded enquiry and a statuary inquiry into the tribunal. Why has this legislation suddenly gone sideways?”

“A third of Australia’s road transport in Australia is taken off the owner-operator truckies and handed over to the big boys; we’re talking about an awful lot of money here. So at the very least there’s something here that screams for an investigation.”

All the KAP offices, including the two state MPs have been inundated with industry concern on this issue.

Member for Mount Isa, Rob Katter said it was essential all levels of government were focused on assisting small business.

"We need the businesses of owner operator drivers to remain competitive, not legislate them out of existence," Mr Rob Katter said.

Member for Dalrymple, Shane Knuth said: "These drivers are the bread and butter of many rural communities working against the larger players, KAP will continue to work to support them.”

Mr Bob Katter has addressed criticism that he wasn’t speaking out against the issues earlier:

“The tribunal’s orders as they were originally proposed were actually drafted to help the owner-driver, independent operator but the way it’s washed up in practice and reality –the changes are absolutely disastrous.”

“I admit I supported the tribunal at first. A bad mistake on my part. It was originally intended to support the owner operator. I never dreamed it would turn into something like this,” said Mr Katter.

“There’s also criticism for truckies not coming to it sooner, but they didn’t know either.”