Media Release

Bob Katter MP speaking at a press conference held by the Transport Workers’ Union demanding the Government abandon its plan to get rid of the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal – which investigates the economic pressure on truck drivers to drive faster, for longer with over-loaded vehicles in a stressed and tired state.

“We welcome the initiatives coming from the TWU. There are some unions that don’t look after their members but look after their political ambitions, but the TWU I single out as having fought tenaciously for their workers, whether it’s at Qantas or whether it’s in road safety.

“I represent the biggest road network in Australia and I have three of the biggest trucking organisations in Australia as well – the Blennerhassets, who are very close to their workers, the Curleys, also close to their workers, the Pattel extended family, also close to their workers.

“These blokes are being undermined and white anted by what I call ‘greedy outlaws’, who are quite prepared to break all the rules so they can get an edge in their contracts, of course at the expense of their workers.

“My experience of the trucking companies is that they’re damn good guys and we can’t let them be undermined by the greed of big supermarket chains, nor by the greed of ‘greedy outlaws’ who really don’t care about the safety of their men.

“I come from country music country and one of the greatest songs in our history is ‘Lights on the Hill’, about a truckie who’s really worn out, over extended, tired – and he drives his car off the road and is killed.

“Congratulations to Tony Sheldon, whose Transport Workers’ Union has fought very hard for their men and done a very good job for the people in their industry.”