Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Senator Carol Brown, has highlighted the Government’s commitment to increasing safety for Australia’s hard working truckies.
Addressing the National Road Freighters Association Conference in Toowoomba on Saturday, Senator Brown re-enforced the Government’s election commitment of $80 million for dedicated, top class rest areas for truckies.
“Quality rest is essential for safe trucking, but in order to get quality rest you need quality rest areas. That is why we announced in the election campaign that we would provide $80 million for new and upgraded rest areas,” Senator Brown told the conference.
About 180,000 hard working Australians earn their living moving freight around the nation on our roads. At the moment they move around 29% of our freight. This is set to increase to up to 46%.
Senator Brown assured the conference that work on the program design to deliver on this important election commitment had already begun as part of the preparation for the October Budget.
Specific projects will be selected in close consultation with the men and women who have their hands on the steering wheel day in and day out.
“The Government is committed to keeping these hardworking Australians safe, and providing a dedicated rest area policy and program is an important part of that commitment.”
