The National Road Transport Association (NatRoad) is calling on the Federal Government to temporarily reduce the Road User Charge for heavy vehicles by 32.4 cents per litre and allow businesses to process Business Activity Statements (BAS) fortnightly, warning without urgent action, Australians will soon feel the impact at the checkout.
With ongoing volatility in fuel prices continuing to squeeze transport operators, NatRoad says the mounting costs facing truck operators will inevitably flow through to the price of groceries, household goods and essential supplies.
NatRoad CEO, Warren Clark, said the industry was reaching a tipping point.
“Truck operators are being hit from every direction – rising fuel costs, tolls, superannuation, regulatory pressures and a tax structure that simply isn’t keeping pace with reality,” he said.
A temporary reduction to the Road User Charge by 32.4 cents per litre, reviewed monthly, would provide immediate relief to operators while fuel markets remain volatile and businesses manage escalating costs.”
Clark said the change could be implemented quickly through a Ministerial decision and would deliver immediate support to thousands of transport operators, many of whom are small businesses already operating on razor-thin margins.
“Truck drivers deliver the groceries, the medical supplies and the goods Australians rely on every single day. When their costs rise, everyone pays,” he said.
If the Government doesn’t step in now, Australians should brace for significant price increases at the checkout as early as April.”
NatRoad is also calling for the Federal Government to allow small businesses to process and claim their Business Activity Statements fortnightly, giving operators faster access to GST refunds and improved cash flow.
“For many small transport operators, cash flow is the difference between staying on the road and parking the truck,” said Clark.
“Allowing fortnightly BAS reporting would give small businesses faster access to the funds they’re owed and help them manage rising operational costs.”
Clark said the changes were practical, immediate steps the Government could take to stabilise the industry and prevent further cost pressures on Australian households.
“Government must recognise the critical role road transport plays in Australia’s supply chain,” he said. “If trucking becomes unsustainable, Australians will see the consequences every time they visit the supermarket.”
NatRoad is urging the Government to act swiftly to protect transport businesses and shield consumers from avoidable price shocks.
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