The WA state government has amended certain contract and dispute laws following a lengthy industry consultation process last year to help owner drivers
Updated laws introduced by the Western Australian government to safeguard the rights of owner-drivers of heavy vehicles operating in the road freight transport industry come into effect today.
The state government says amended Owner-Drivers (Contracts and Disputes) Amendment Act 2022 passed Parliament in October last year and is the result of extensive consultation with the Road Freight Transport Industry Council and the Road Freight Industry Tribunal.
The amendments aim to help improve business dealings between owner-drivers of heavy vehicles who transport freight and the people who hire them, by clarifying the regulatory responsibilities of both parties.
The changes include the introduction of minimum notice periods of 90 days for termination of a contract longer than three months, and seven days for contracts less than three months.
Transport Minister Rita Saffioti says the new laws protect key contributers to the state’s economy.
“The updated laws that come into effect today protect the rights of small businesses and independent operators who own and drive trucks in the freight industry.
“These are the small operators who are making a big difference to our economy and our lives, by helping to keep our supply chains going and delivering goods across our State,” Saffioti says.
The role of the Road Freight Transport Industry Tribunal has also been clarified to make sure it can deliver fair and efficient outcomes in dispute resolution between owner-drivers and hirers.
Non-compliance with owner-driver guideline pay rates will now be factored into dispute resolution decisions made by the Tribunal. The government says this change places more responsibility on hirers to offer fair pay for owner-driver services.
In addition, workplace right of entry provisions have also been updated to allow an authorised owner-driver’s representative to enter a workplace to investigate suspected breaches of the Act.
You can read more about the updated Owner-Drivers Act here.
Saffioti says industry consultation was at the forefront of the new laws.
“Our new laws will provide owner-drivers with better protection and improve their position in matters including job security and fair pay, as well as clear processes to follow to resolve disputes.
“We have consulted extensively with industry to update these laws which will result in more streamlined and reasonable business dealings between owner-drivers and people hiring their services,” Saffioti says.