Relief for heavy vehicle operators

A BILL designed to help Australia’s trucking industry manage the effects of the war in the Middle East fully passed Federal Parliament on Monday.

The passing of the Fair Work Amendment (Fairer Fuel) Bill 2026 will allow truckies and road transport businesses to make emergency applications for contract chain orders to guarantee they’re paid enough to pay for fuel.

Contract chain orders set minimum pay rates and conditions across all parties in a particular supply chain, ensuring drivers are paid fairly, even if they’re subcontractors.

The amendment changes how fast and easily they can be made, from the usual six months minimum to days or weeks.

Federal Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters said without trucks, the movement of essential supplies stops.

“Fuel price spikes are affecting everyone, but no one is feeling it more acutely than those whose day jobs and livelihoods are behind the wheel of heavy vehicles,” she said.

“That’s why we’re making it easier for them to renegotiate how costs are shared across the supply chain.

“It’ll mean that local transport businesses and truck drivers can continue to work, without being locked into unfair contract prices.”

Other relief measures announced on Monday stemming from an emergency session of the National Cabinet included halving the fuel excise (from 52.6 cents per litre to 26.3 cents per litre) from 1 April for three months, and temporarily reducing the heavy vehicle road user charge from 20 to 25 cents per litre of diesel for heavy trucks to zero.