Open letter to owner drivers in Australia

Re: Formation of Owner Drivers Australia

It's about time that owner-drivers in Australia formed a single association to look after our interests. For too long, the real issues that need to be addressed have been ignored.

We did get together in the past to look after our common interests. When the Personal Service Income Tax laws came in, we fought to make sure we had fair tax treatment. We won. But we didn't stay together to fight for our other common interests.

Now there is a new cause. Soon, there will be an Independent Contractors Act. This law will secure the right of people to be their own boss, to be self-employed. Owner-drivers are their own bosses. The question is: will owner drivers be allowed to be in the Independent Contractors Act or be kept out?

If we are forced out of the Independent Contractors Act, does that mean we are not a business? What happens to our business-tax status? Will we lose that too?

Owner Drivers Australia is a new association formed by owner-drivers. We run our own businesses. We want to be in the Independent Contractors Act. We have formed an association that represents us all---whether you are a principal contractor or run your own show. We are all in this together, and Owner Drivers Australia is there for all of us.

What we want.

• Freedom to negotiate our own contracts.
• Fair, proper contracts that protect us all.
• Quick/fair processes to fix any disagreements.
• Quality work safety laws that stop the small percentage of irresponsible drivers damaging the reputation of all of us. Keep our roads safe!
• Consistent business laws applied across the country for all of us.
• A secure right to be our own boss.

Some States have some good laws for owner-drivers. Other State laws are a mess. We want these cleaned up. There's lots to be done but we're going to move forward and do the job.

The Independent Contractors Act gives us a new start and a new recognition by the Federal Government. Owner-drivers must be in the Act if we are to start the long journey to fix the laws that matter to us.

We have a Website. Check it out. www.ownerdrivers.com.au

Owner Drivers Australia