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  Issue No 89 Official Organ of LaborNet 23 March 2001  

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News

Transport Drug Pushers Not Charged


Over 150 long distance truck drivers were charged with driving, fatigue and drug related offences as part of a Police and RTA blitz on the NSW and Queensland border last weekend.

Offering those charged the union's full support TWU State Secretary Tony Sheldon has identified immediate action by the Federal Government to cut the pressures forcing long distance truck drivers over the edge as the only hope of keeping fatigued and drug affected drivers off the road.

"The actions of the Police and RTA on the weekend in just punishing drivers without investigating the reasons why they are on the road being forced to break the law to make a living is no solution when the real drug pushes in the industry are getting off scot free," Transport Workers Union NSW State Secretary Tony Sheldon said today.

"Without comparative penalties and blitzes on the companies and clients of the industry who set the demands and control and deadlines drivers are forced to meet nothing is going to change."

"It is ultimately these people who control the economics of the long distance industry that must be held responsible if we are ever going to reduce the number of drivers forced over the edge to make a living and the number of people killed in truck accidents on our roads."

"Accordingly, the TWU is calling on the Federal Government to immediately introduce an enforceable code of practice for the industry, including sustainable freight rates and provision for the clients of the industry to be held responsible for the drivers and freight their demands are putting on our roads," Mr Sheldon said.

"This weeks revelations of the joint Police and RTA operation Zulu on the NSW and Queensland borders charging over 150 long distance truck drivers with a variety of driving, fatigue and drug related offences should strike terror into the heart of every Australian road user."

"In this industry it is not uncommon for drivers to work in excess of 100hrs a week, drive for over 24 hours without a break and have to resort to drug use just to stay awake and if the authorities seriously want to make a difference then the Federal Government has to act," Mr Sheldon said.


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*   View entire issue - print all of the articles!

*   Issue 89 contents

In this issue
Features
*  Interview: Paddy Takes the Helm
Irish, internationalist, republican, socialist & seafarer - Paddy Crumlin intends taking the old traditions of the labour left into the 21st century, the community and cyberspace.
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*  Unions: Breaking the Mould
Mark Hearn looks at how women union delegates are helping to change the culture in the traditionally male bastion of glassworking.
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*  Legal: Washing Their Hands
Mark Morey outlines how Liberal neglect of the working visa system has led to exploitation of guest workers.
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*  International: Violence Betrays Shangri-La
Shangri-La hotel union members carrying a coffin marked Robert Kuok have been assaulted and beaten by police in Jakarta.
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*  Economics: Corporations: Different Than You and Me
Corporations are fundamentally different than you and me. That's a simple truth that Big Business leaders desperately hope the public will not perceive.
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*  History: The Steel Octopus
Be prepared for a flood of Nostalgia from the media about the �Big Australian�, as it prepares to flee our shores and finally internationalise its digging operations. Workers won�t forget BHP�s less than worker friendly past and present (and no doubt it�s future).
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*  Review: Mean Nation
John Allen charts the fall and fall of philanthropy in Australian society.
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*  Satire: Ryan 'A Big Wake-Up Call For Me': Beazley
The narrow victory to Labor in the Ryan by-election has delivered a big slap in the face to Leader of the Opposition Kim Beazley.
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News
»  Abbott and �Drinking Buddy� Under Microscope
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»  Working Visas: Ruddock Sells Dump to Abbott
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»  Tourist Guides Bussed In
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»  Fair Wear Holds Breath as Carr Celebrates
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»  Labor to Restore Public Sector�s Dignity
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»  Its Time for Carr to Act on Safey on Building Sites
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»  Bread Maker Slices Workforce
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»  Workers Show Grace Under Pressure
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»  Engineers Win BHP Redundancy Case
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»  Transport Drug Pushers Not Charged
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»  Training Body Needs $150 Million to Cope with Growth
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»  HIH Urged To Safeguard Employee Entitlements
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»  Carr Proposal For Public Schools Flawed
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»  Human Smirk Returns to Spiritual Home
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»  McGauchie Appointment Draws MUA Fire
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»  Bove Loses McDonald's Raid Appeal
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»  James Hardie Called to Account
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»  Australasian Union Organising Conference
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»  Activist Notebook
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Columns
»  The Soapbox
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»  The Locker Room
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»  Trades Hall
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»  Tool Shed
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Letters to the editor
»  AXA Has Form
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»  Leichhardt Debate Hots Up
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