Truckies’ Protest
Angry truck drivers have been blocking the Pacific Highway in New South Wales overnight in protest against rising petrol prices, poor wages and worknig conditions. The truck drivers now say the Government has until Monday to announce a new regulaltory framework for the industry or they will blockade every highway in the country. The drivers say their operating margins are simply too tight to survive. However, the industry does not stand united. President of the Australian Long Distance Owners and Drivers Association Bunny Brown took part in the blockade and don’t see any other ways of getting the Goverment’s attention, while the peak trucking body, the Australian Trucking Association’s cheif executive Chris Althaus says disrupting traffick is dangerous and harming productivity.