The Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull reaffirmed today in northern Hume there would be no Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT) under a re-elected Coalition Government.

Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor joined the Prime Minister, other Federal ministers including Employment Minister Michaelia Cash and local MPs including Member for Macarthur Russell Matheson, at a rally of owner driver truckies in Smeaton Grange.

“There’s a lot of anger and concern among these local small business owners that under a Labor Government, the Labor-initiated Tribunal would be brought back, allowing unions to call the shots to benefit the bigger unionised workplaces.

“It is our Government that voted out the RSRT. It is our Government that is committed to standing by these small business owners and backing them, because we value their hard work and because they carry the economy,” Mr Taylor said.

Currans Hill owner driver John Gibb said he had lost $15,000 in income in the three weeks the tribunal had enacted new payments orders which disadvantaged smaller operators.

“I’ve lost a lot of money. I’ve got a sick wife and it’s going to be real hard to get that back.”

Orangeville owner drivers Theresa and Peter Attard had subcontractors walk away from doing business with them: “They knew we couldn’t afford to pay them. We carry split loads and yet under the tribunal’s order we had to charge a full amount for each section of the load, which was ridiculous. We thanked the Prime Minister today for getting rid of this.” 

Caption: Angus Taylor with Employment Minister Michaelia Cash and owner drivers Peter and Theresa Attard from Orangeville.

Caption: The Attards thank Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull for abolishing the RSRT.