One of our biggest achievements was securing the passage of the Closing the Loopholes No. 2 package. This landmark legislation established the Road Transport Division of the Fair Work Commission and created a powerful platform dedicated to addressing the challenges our members face.
his division will enable us to enforce fair wages, safe conditions, and secure jobs across the road transport industry, from trucking to gig work—a massive step forward for our movement.
We also put new waste tendering regulations to work, ensuring waste workers retain their wages, conditions and entitlements during tender processes including most recently Ryde Council. Thanks to the relentless efforts of our members, companies held onto contracts in these areas, providing stability and continuity for workers who’ve long faced uncertainty in contract transitions. We’re proving that when these regulations are enforced, they’re powerful tools for securing jobs.
Looking ahead, we’re gearing up to expand Chapter 6 in 2025. Our goal is to bring more owner-drivers and gig workers under these vital protections and ensure minimum standards for all who work in the transport industry—no matter their employment status. The gig economy shouldn’t be an excuse for companies to sidestep fair wages or safety standards and we’re committed to closing these loopholes.
And finally, we held Qantas accountable. In a hard-won decision, Qantas has been ordered to pay over $100 million in compensation to workers it illegally sacked. This decision is a huge victory for our members, with further penalty payments still to come, reinforcing the principle that no company is above the law.
This year has shown that when we stand together, we win. Let’s keep pushing forward to raise standards, hold corporations accountable, and make the voices of transport workers heard. Together, we’re building a stronger, fairer future for all.
Nick McIntosh • TWU Assistant Secretary