The Queensland Trucking Association Ltd (QTA) has today criticised 'those small disparate groups' within the Queensland trucking industry, calling for disruption to the road freight disruption to start on Monday.
Chief executive officer of QTA Ltd, Peter Garske, said, “It is difficult to identify the support behind certain individuals who purport to speak on behalf of sections of our industry.
"These fractured organisations, when not openly criticising each other, publish ever increasing demands on Governments and others which clearly display an ignorance of the Government regulatory process.
"The association which represents a broad cross-section of the freight task, including long distance, interstate and intrastate, urban, regional and remote operators both large, small and family owned, rejects both the approach, the demands and the strategy advanced by all or any of these 'self proclaimed spokespersons' of industry.
“The industry is going through a most difficult period, coping with fuel prices dictated by decision makers on the other side of the world, significant shortages of skilled drivers and a slowing economy all of which will directly and adversely impact on the size of the freight task.
"There would not be an operator in Australia who could afford to park up a truck for any period and deliberately deny themselves cash flow, income and viability."
QTA Ltd rejected any notion that industry has not participated in the process of regulatory reform over the last decade.
The trucking industry, through associations at a State and National level, has been engaged with Government for many years on issues such as heavy vehicle registration charges, road safety outcomes, driving hours and a fatigue management package to be introduced from September 29.
Both the Queensland Transport Minister, John Mickel and Federal Minister, Anthony Albanese, have in the last 24 hours, rejected the demands and tactics of those individuals who purport to speak on behalf of the industry.
“It appears that these vocal minority groups seek a range of quick-fix solutions including levels of deregulation.
"They provide no sustainable business solutions. They lack credibility and they put at risk community and Government confidence in our most valuable and economically important industry.”
“QTA Ltd condemns the actions of the so-called Australian Long Distance Owners and Drivers Association for the threats contained in recent communication circulating within the industry.
"We have referred these threats to the Queensland Police Department.
“The profitability and viability of our industry will be directly reflected in the business skills of operators and the industry accepting responsibility for safety outcomes in return for Government’s identifying measures which will deliver improved efficiency and productivity.
"The Queensland trucking industry requires the support of our customers, the community and Government.
"This will not be achieved by any activity which seeks to disrupt the freight task.”
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