Butler battles for truckies

General news0
Terri Butler and Bill Shorten
Terri Butler with leader Bill Shorten and TWU members campaigning for Griffith

Griffith by-election Labor candidate Terri Butler stood up for motorists, truckies and their families this morning when she took her pledge to save the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal for a safer and fairer road transport industry.

Held at a Transport Workers’ Union members barbeque, TWU State Secretary Peter Biagini said Ms Butler showed her commitment to the people of Griffith and to the unacceptably high level of fatal truck crashes on our roads.

‘Hundreds of people die in truck crashes each year on Australian roads, devastating families and communities in Queensland and across the country,’ Mr Biagini said.

‘Truck drivers share the roads with everyone else, that’s why Safe Rates is so important.’

‘Look at the last week, already we’ve seen far too many truck fires, crashes and deaths on Queensland roads.’

‘Safe Rates through the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal will remove the economic pressures major companies put on drivers to skip breaks, delay maintenance and work faster and longer to deliver their goods,’ Mr Biagini said.

‘Truck drivers are out there on the roads everyday trying to make a living and deserve to get home to their families safely at the end of the day.’

Joined at the barbeque by Opposition Leader and Safe Rates advocate Bill Shorten, Ms Butler said she understood the pressures on her community and looked forward to delivering in parliament on their behalf.

‘Safe Rates is important to the people of Griffith because it means drivers can afford to properly maintain their vehicles, can drive safely without having to meet impossible deadlines, and can earn a fair wage that allows them to put food on the family table,’ Ms Butler said.

‘Safe Rates make our trucking sector viable and sustainable – and they save lives.

‘Now it’s time for Mr Glasson to let the local community know if he think it’s ok for truckies to be squeezed to breaking point just to put food on the table.’

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