Senator Bridget McKenzie drew both applause and scepticism during a speech given at the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) Trucking Australia conference in Canberra last week, highlighting transport industry issues that need to be resolved while also vowing to get her HR licence.
“I just want to make one small announcement that, having finally got my feet under the table of this fantastic portfolio, and done a bit of homework myself, my next ambition in 2024 is to get my heavy-rigid truck licence,” she said.
“I’ve just got to find the lazy $1200 bucks that’s going to cost me, so then hopefully by the time I’m speaking to you next year I will have been out with some of you on the road – you know, showing you that I can actually make my way through the gears and get the job done.”
On a more sincere note, Senator McKenzie thanked outgoing ATA Chair, David Smith, for his service as well as congratulating incoming Chair, Managing Director of Ron Finemore Transport, Mark Parry.
“When you’ve got great leaders, you have a great industry and this organisation has been blessed for many years with the leadership of David and now I know through Mark’s leadership that will continue,” she said.
Federal budget hopes
Senator McKenzie got straight down to business, discussing the upcoming federal budget and its implications across the growing road transport industry.
“I’ve been asked today to speak about our approach to the budget and, as you know, by the time I’m back here in a few weeks time we’ll be listening to Jim Chalmers and Anthony Albanese’s plan for our nation as they bring down their budget,” she said.
“It’s important for me, as the Coalition spokesman on all things transport and infrastructure, to make sure that you’re fully aware of where we see the priorities for the upcoming budget when it comes to transport and infrastructure and investment.
Senator McKenzie went on to criticise Labor for its approach to infrastructure spending, suggesting the road network has been neglected across the past two years.
“Australia has cancelled, cut and delayed more than $25 billion from our infrastructure budget,” she said.
“Over two years the government has used the infrastructure budget to plug holes in thier budget so that they can deliver the service.
“The only big announcements this government’s made in the infrastructure portfolio are stadiums and the suburban rail loop in Melbourne to the tune of $2.2 billion and billions of dollars in stadiums and the Suburban Rail Loop, whilst cutting $25 billion from critical infrastructure projects across the country.
“Unfortunately, the government has not replaced these cuts with new projects or plans to improve the national freight network.”
Road network woes
Senator McKenzie questioned infrastructure cuts, highlighting that the growing national freight task is putting more pressure on the road network and transport operators than ever before.
“One might suggest the cuts to infrastructure could be responsible, if fewer people were actually driving on our roads, if there were less trucks on our roads, less vehicles on our roads, if the national freight task was shrinking – but as you all know, it’s growing,” she said.
“The task is getting heavier, not lighter. The case for investment in productivity-enhancing infrastructure is growing, not shrinking.
Engagement with peak bodies, Senator Mckenzie said, has made her aware of the pressure placed on transport operators facing increased maintenance costs due to poor road conditions.
“I really want to say thank you to the deep engagement that I’ve been able to have at both peak body level, but also with local businesses, as I’ve moved around the country and I was struck by stories of maintenance bills going through the roof as a result of our shocking road degradation,” she said.
“One company that I was speaking with in regional Victoria, I think they had a fleet of 35 trucks running in the southeast, said their maintenance Bill had gone into the hundreds of 1000s of dollars within a 12 month period.”
Driver training consistency
Senator McKenzie also touched on driver training inconsistency and its effect on the national road toll, an issue that is compounding the skilled driver shortage plaguing the industry.
“We’ve talked about the importance of investing in infrastructure to make our roads safer workplaces for you, but it would be remiss not to mention the importance of ensuring our drivers are suitably skilled and competent to drive,” she said.
“The Federal Department reported there were a total of 109 deaths on our roads during March. This is 4.2% higher than the five-year average for March and over the last 12 months there was an 8.2% increase in road fatalities.
“This is why I want to raise the work we formally did on the development of the National Heavy Vehicle Driver Competency Framework. This is an important piece of work to achieve long overdue national consistency and driver licensing, competency competency testing and recognition of qualifications as drivers from overseas.
“Australia has a national freight industry with drivers crossing borders daily, and it makes no sense in 2024 that we have different licensing schemes operating in different states and territories.”
A clean future
In ending her address, Senator McKenzie commended the ATA for its ongoing advocacy work to better support the road transport industry’s interests as she looks to developing low-emission future policy.
“You’ve been relentless with us when we’re in government, and now with the Labour government and you need to be because these seemingly inconsequential changes will drive such massive productivity gains and efficiency for your drivers and for your businesses,” she said.
“Obviously, as the coalition we’re going to do whatever we can from opposition to help your industry prosper, to be more sustainable as we head toward 2050 and I really appreciate all of the industry’s discussions with me as I seek to develop the coalition’s low-emission transport policy before the next federal election.
“I really want practical, credible plans that we can put in place as part of a future coalition government to drive a low emissions transport network that won’t kill industry profitability.”
