The Government has decided to implement a Road Safety Remuneration System for drivers in the road transport industry.
The Road Safety Remuneration System is the Government’s response to the 2008 National Transport Commission Report Safe Payments Addressing the Underlying Causes of Unsafe Practices in the Road Transport Industry and the Safe Rates, Safe Roads Directions Paper.
The Road Safety Remuneration Bill 2011 and Explanatory Memorandum, including a Regulatory Impact Statement, can be found on the aph.gov.au website.
The Road Safety Remuneration (Consequential Amendments and Related Provisions) Bill 2011 can be found on the aph.gov.au website.
View Media Statement issued by the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations, Chris Evans, and the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Anthony Albanese, regarding the decision to implement a Road Safety Remuneration System.
Enquiries
You are welcome to contact the department with any enquires about any of the information you have found on this page. Please direct any enquires to the department’s Safe Rates Team at:
Email: srsecretariat@deewr.gov.au
Phone: (02) 6240 0933
Background
On 25 July 2008, the Government announced that the National Transport Commission (NTC) was investigating and reporting on driver remuneration and payment methods in the transport industry and would be making recommendations for reform. A joint media statement was issued by the Hon Julia Gillard MP, then Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government and the Hon Craig Emerson MP, Minister for Small Business, Independent Contractors and the Service Economy.
In October 2008, the NTC issued its report with the assistance of Professor Michael Quinlan (FSIA) and Hon Lance Wright QC. The report, Safe Payments Addressing the Underlying Causes of Unsafe Practices in the Road Transport Industry (the NTC Report), stated the existence of a link between driver remuneration and safety outcomes in the Heavy Vehicle Industry and made a number of recommendations for actions to address this link.
To assist in responding to the NTC Report, the Government asked the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (the Department) to consult with industry stakeholders and develop models for possible reform in the industry, building on the recommendations in the NTC Report.
Safe Rates Advisory Group
As part of this process, a Safe Rates Advisory Group (SRAG) was established by the Government, to provide expert industry advice on policy options for national reform. More information about SRAG can be found here:
Minister's media statement.
This advice has culminated in the Safe Rates, Safe Roads Directions Paper.
More than 40 submissions were received during the consultation period for the Directions Paper, providing members of the Australian community – particularly owner drivers, employees, employers, their respective organisations and regulators, and those using and affected by the road transport industry – with an opportunity to contribute to improving safety in the industry.
All feedback that has been received by the Department and is not confidential is publically available on the Feedback Received page.
The SRAG was recalled in October 2011 to assist the Government with finalising its response.
View Parliamentary Secretary Collins’ Media Release on recalling the SRAG.
The Government is committed to doing all that is necessary to ensure that truck drivers have a safe and fair workplace, while sustaining the long term viability of the road transport industry.
The Road Safety Remuneration System is an important next step for the transport industry.