Late last year two local truck drivers approached Campbelltown MP Greg Warren to discuss problems they were experiencing in the workplace.
They told Mr Warren that the Industrial Relations Act prevented them from resolving these issues.
As a former truck driver himself, Mr Warren was keen to find a solution to help everyone affected.
This morning Mr Warren introduced a bill in the NSW Parliament to extend industrial rights and protections to contractors engaged for the delivery of bread, cream and milk.
His Industrial Relations Amendment (Contracts of Carriage) Bill 2018 seeks to change an out of date section of the Industrial Relations Act that excludes truck drivers engaged as contractors for the delivery of bread, cream and milk from the NSW industrial relations system.
It is the first Bill introduced by Mr Warren since his election almost three years ago.
The local MP said he was hopeful that the State Government would support this basic and common sense amendment to the NSW industrial relations system.
“It’s exciting to be moving my first Bill in Parliament, and even more of an honour when it’s about an issue so close to my heart – the rights and conditions of hard-working truck drivers,’’ he said.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“As a former truck driver myself, I know how hard and at times dangerous the work is.[/social_quote]
“And for the NSW industrial relations system to exclude a whole group of truck drivers just because their trailer is full of milk, cream or bread is absurd and should be changed.
“From the discussions I’ve had with the Minister for Industrial Relations and comments made by the Government in media coverage about this issue, I’m hopeful that the Berejiklian Government will support this common-sense change to our industrial relations system.”
