Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1 July 2012 |
| Dissolved | 21 April 2016 |
| Jurisdiction | Commonwealth of Australia |
| Agency executive |
|
The Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT) was an independent body established by the Gillard government in 2012 to oversee the road transport industry in Australia.[1] The jurisdiction of the RSRT is set out in the Road Safety Remuneration Act 2012.[2]
Background
[edit]The Tribunal was established to address the problem of a uniform pay rate for truck drivers, as the National Transport Commission had concluded in a 2008 report that there was a link between driver pay rates and safety outcomes.[3] The Transport Workers Union of Australia issued a "Safe Rates" campaign in response to this report.[4] The possibility of legislation or a regulatory body to address minimum pay rates for truck drivers was first raised in Parliament in 2010.[5]
Establishment
[edit]When the Tribunal was established in 2012, its aim was "promoting safety and fairness in the industry."[6] The Tribunal was tasked with inquiring into the road transport industry, allowing it to:[7]
- Set minimum rates of pay and conditions for truck drivers,
- Enable certain drivers and their hirers to collectively bargain and enter into agreements approved by the Tribunal,
- Resolve disputes between drivers, hirers, employers and other actors in the road transport industry, and
- Deal with disputes related to the termination of road transport contracts.
Operation
[edit]Between 2012 and 2016 the Tribunal made two orders: Road Transport and Distribution and Long Distance Operations Road Safety Renumeration Order (2014) and Contractor Driver Minimum Payments Road Safety Renumeration Order 2016.[3]
In the lead-up to the 2013 Australian federal election, Tony Abbott promised to issue a review of the industrial tribunal.[8] The Government engaged a consulting firm to conduct the review, and in 2014 (before the issuing of the Tribunal's first order order), they concluded that the tribunal had achieved little, but there was a reduction in truck accidents and fatalities.[3]
The Road Safety Renumeration Order in 2014 set out that employers or hirers must provide drivers with a written contract before they start, pay drivers within 30 days of an invoice, prepare safe driving plans, provide workplace health and safety measures, and have a drug and alcohol policy.[9]
Another review of the Tribunal was conducted by a consulting firm in 2015 with a conclusion that if it was not abolished, it should be reformed to focus on assessing evidence that payment rates are linked to driver safety.[10]
The Contractor Driver Minimum Payments Order in 2016 set out an audit process for supply chain contracts, national minimum payments, and unpaid leave entitlements for contract drivers.[11] This order was controversial and it was not implemented before the Tribunal's abolition.[12] It was claimed that the Order disadvantaged owner-drivers.[13]
Abolition
[edit]In 2016 the continuing dispute between owner-truck drivers in the road transport industry accelerated calls for the tribunal to be abolished.[14][15]
In the lead up to the 2016 election, the Coalition promised to abolish the Tribunal, but was able to pass the legislation before the election with support from crossbenchers.[16] The Tribunal was abolished on 21 April 2016.[17][18]
Since its abolition, there have been calls for the Tribunal's reinstatement and the implementation of a consistent rate of pay for truck drivers.[19] The Transport Workers Union has continued its Safe Rates campaign.[20]
References
[edit]- ^ Chung, Frank. "Push to abolish truck industry pay body". News.com.au. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ^ "Road Safety Remuneration Act 2012". legislation.gov.au. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ^ a b c Thornthwaite, Louise (15 April 2016). "Controversial history of Road Safety Tribunal shows minimum pay was doomed from the start". The Conversation. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
- ^ "Hansard - House of Representatives on 23/11/2011". Parliament of Australia. 23 November 2011. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
- ^ Deigthon-Smith, Rex (December 2016). "Assessing the impacts of the Road Safety Remuneration System in Australia - a RIA case study" (PDF). International Transport Forum. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
- ^ "Road Safety Remuneration Bill 2012 Explanatory Memorandum". Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 23 May 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
- ^ "Road Safety Remuneration Bill 2012". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
- ^ "Turnbull government to abolish Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal if re-elected". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ^ "Road Transport and Distribution and Long Distance Operations Road Safety Renumeration Order 2014" (PDF). Fair Work Commission. 17 December 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ PricewaterhouseCoopers, (PWC) (31 January 2016). Review of the Road Safety Remuneration System 2016: final report (Report). Department of Employment (Australia).
- ^ "Contractor Driver Minimum Payments Road Safety Renumeration Order 2016". Fair Work Ombudsman. 18 December 2015.
- ^ Medhora, Shalailah (10 April 2016). "Turnbull makes election pledge to abolish body protecting truck driver pay rates". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
- ^ "Senate on verge of killing off Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal". Australian Financial Review. 13 April 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
- ^ Donovan, Samantha. "Crossbenchers poised to join Coalition to axe Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal in Senate". ABC. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ^ "NO ROAD SAFETY RENUMERATION TRIBUNAL" (PDF). Australian Trucking Association. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
- ^ "Unions, Labor defend truckies' tribunal". SBS News. 10 April 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
- ^ "Road Safety Remuneration Repeal Act 2016". www.legislation.gov.au. 19 April 2016..
- ^ "Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal Abolished". Australian Business Lawyers & Advisors. Retrieved 14 October 2016..
- ^ "TWU calls for re-establishment of national Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal". ABC listen. 17 January 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
- ^ "Safe Rates". Transport Workers’ Union. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
External links
[edit]- Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal at the Wayback Machine (archived July 12, 2016)
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