While the Australian Industry Group (AiG) recognizes the importance of road safety, the group opposes the planned establishment of a Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal.

AiG Chief Executive Heather Ridout explained that it is against the proposal because the tribunal would be based on a flawed logic that paying drivers differently and at higher rates would improve road safety.

"The establishment of a new tribunal would distract government and industry attention and resources away from the measures which are widely recognised as improving safety, such as risk identification and control, improved roads, fatigue management, education and training, drug and alcohol policies, use of technology and strong compliance and enforcement mechanisms," Ms Rideout said in a statement.

Transport Minister Anthony Albanese, who pushed for the tribunal, told Parliament that road transport is the most dangerous industry in Australia with 250 fatalities and over 1,000 serious injuries from trucking accidents yearly.

He attributed the high accident rate to poor pay and conditions that encourage speeding, excessive work hours and drug taking, which were cited in the 2008 National Transport Commission report.

Mr Albanese cited as an example the wait time of up to 10 hours for trucks to load and unload, which few drivers could negotiate for the lost time.

"Any argument that the wages and conditions for employees in the road transport industry are not fair, relevant or safe is an argument that the Fair Work Act and the modern award system have not delivered fairness. Such an argument conflicts with numerous public statements made by the Australian government, and conflicts with the award modernization and Annual Wage Review decisions of FWA," Ms Ridout said.

The tribunal, which would be tasked with the examination of road transport industry issues and practices, and would determine minimum salary rates and related work conditions, is supposed to be made up of FWA members and road transport experts.

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