No subject

Alex Pollard
O4O4873828

President
ACT Peak Oil Inc.
http://act-peakoil.org

------------- Forwarded message follows -------------


John L wrote:

>The local paper here in Toowoomba, The Chronicle, had a front page article
today about a national truckers meeting here and a vote to strike and cut
national deliveries by two thirds. I can't find the article on the website
(www.thechronicle.com.au if anybody else wants to try) and haven't seen
anything in the mainstream media yet. Has anybody heard anything about this?
>I was particularly struck by a quote from the meetings chair 'This is the
main reason we are giving everyone such long notice, so the public can stock
up on supplies."
>If it goes ahead maybe a few more sheeple will wake up? We can only hope.
>John
>
http://www.thechronicle.com.au/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3775694

Truckies deliver a final warning

ROAD freight across the nation will be cut by at least two-thirds from
midnight on July 27 if the government does not meet a list of demands
from the trucking industry.

The vote to keep thousands of trucks off the road was taken at a
meeting of truck owners in Toowoomba on Saturday.

The truck drivers are angry at a hike in excise and registration charges
along with new driver fatigue management rules which could cost them
demerit points.

Hundreds of frustrated owners from three states gathered in a show of
solidarity over issues they say are bringing their industry to its knees.

Organiser Sheridan Steinohrt said the National Road Transport Shutdown
Forum followed a meeting in Townsville recently, with two more to come
in Dubbo and Albury.

Meeting chairman, owner-driver Mick Pattel, said the vote signalled a
power struggle.

"The action could go for two weeks, but I think the government will come
to the table at the eleventh hour," Mr Pattel said.

Despite the demands, Mr Pattel said he was intent on getting the public on
the side of the truck drivers.

"We need the public to get behind the trucks and help support us because
if the shutdown does go ahead, it is going to affect everyone with
little things, such as getting your bread, milk and fuel.

"This is the main reason we are giving everyone such long notice, so the
public can stock up on supplies." Topping the list of demands is the
disbanding of the National Transport Commission, a governing body which
owners at Saturday's meeting said did not contain any representatives with
a background in the trucking industry.

Most other demands centre on what many owners believe are unfair fines
and demerit points imposed on drivers for minor driving time and log book
transgressions.

"We can't get drivers because of it," was a common complaint. "It's killing
the industry."

Other concerns relate to fuel excise and truck registrations, which are set
to rise before the end of the year; one high-profile supporter at the
meeting was Bob Katter, Federal Member for Kennedy.

"The key issue is the increasing oppression of truck drivers in
Australia they have no alternative but to take direct action," he said. The
meeting was attended by Vaughan Johnson, Member for Gregory, and Ray Hopper,
Member for the Darling Downs.