Australia’s largest road freight transport association is calling on the federal government to rethink its decision to wind down the Heavy Vehicle Road User Charge reduction, and instead scrap the charge entirely until the end of the year.
CEO of the National Road Transport Association, Warren Clark, says the government’s current plan for the RUC will negatively impact the road freight industry.
“This is not someone taking a joy ride in their car. This is a company providing an essential service to keep this economy going, to keep this country competitive on a world stage,” Clark tells AM.
“We need the road user charge at zero until the end of the year. The reason that we say that is because, you know, it’s so uncertain what’s going to happen. Small business, trucking businesses, transport operators, they need certainty on, you know, what their costs are going to be, or some sort of certainty.”
Clark says suspending the RUC for another six months would help keep costs down for the sector.
“It helps their cash flow. It keeps these guys in business. It keeps things moving.”
