The trucking industry experienced a number of impacts from the 2019/20 devastating bushfires, including:

• extended, constant and uncertain road closures
• long route diversions
• lack of suitable alternative routes
• loss of income from reduced transport task, impacting local jobs and business cashflow
• lack of a clear, implementable and easy to access assistance measure for impacted trucking businesses.

The ATA has made a number of recommendations for government assistance measures to support impacted trucking businesses. These measures, including a disaster wage subsidy, should be implemented for future natural disasters.

More information on the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements.