The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) has demanded the introduction of mandatory 30-day payment terms from the party that forms government after this week’s federal election. 

The ATA represents the 50,000 businesses and 200,000 people in the Australian trucking industry. 

“The ATA and its members are opposed to government-imposed price fixing, but support practical and effective measures to assist owner-drivers, including mandatory 30-day payment terms,” ATA CEO Ben Maguire said. 

“We need a policy approach that improves safety and working conditions for everyone, without creating a fixed pricing regime that is not appropriate for real world costs and practices,” he said. 

The ATA has today released social media videos revealing the policies of the Coalition, the Labor Party and the Centre Alliance on 30-day payment terms. 

Labor Party road safety spokesperson Glenn Sterle said he wanted to collaborate with the trucking industry. 

“I will continue through this whole campaign period to push to say how we can work together, the industry and a Labor Government, to achieve the outcomes we want,” Senator Sterle said. 

“And let’s not just talk about remuneration and unfair contracts. There’s payment terms, training, other safety issues and truck bays,” he said. 

Meanwhile, Centre Alliance Senate candidate Skye Kakoschke-Moore said the way price fixing was dealt with in the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal was a very blunt approach. 

“Perhaps it had noble aims but in real-life it wasn’t getting the outcomes it was really established for,” she said.

Earlier this year, the Coalition said it would require large businesses tendering for government contracts to have 20-day payment terms in place. 

“This is an issue that requires thoughtful action from the next government, with consultation and collaboration with the Australian trucking industry,” Mr Maguire said. 

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