NRTF's blog

Final Report for the NRTF 11-10-2008

NRTF — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 10:45:03 +0000

Hi all,
This will be the final report from me on the Forums.altnews website, the new association is now in place and is called the 'National Road Freighters Association Inc' www.nrfa.asn.au all further news will be available on that site.
I thank the webmaster of forums.altnews Clemens Vermeulen for his support on behalf of all truck drivers around Australia and my own personal thanks, Clemens help made it easier to get information out to everyone and without that support we would have been stumbling around in the dark.

Update for 31/08/2008

NRTF — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:16:32 +0000

Hello all,
The ball is starting to roll; The new association will be called 'National Road Freighters Association'.
We are planning to hold the inaugural meeting in Toowoomba on the 2nd of November2008 at the Toowoomba City Golf Club at 10am everyone is welcome.
The newly appointed board will be endorsed at that meeting, we still need two delegates from W.A., S.A., Tas, and one from N.T. we have a good cross section of directors and the National executive is now in place.

National Road Transport Forum Update 22/08/08

NRTF — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 09:08:49 +0000

Hi all,
As you may know we are working on getting the new association up and running, thing don't happen over night unfortunately, however we need to get it right, the naming of the new association isn’t without it’s problems as a lot of name combinations are taken so our choice will be limited, email me if you come up with a name we can use that describes what we represent.

We are planning to hold the inaugural meeting in Toowoomba early in Nov this is yet to be confirmed, I will post it on this site as the information comes to hand.

No support from the new LNP

NRTF — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 14:20:39 +0000

The Transport industry has no friends on either side of politics or any support from our so called peak Transport Industry Associations or the Transport Workers Union;

Welcome Back Let's Move Forward

NRTF — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 02:54:28 +0000

Hi all,
As I have returned back to the real world, I think things will deteriorate from here on as the new charges and regulations start to bite.

On reflection of the shutdown I believe it was a demonstration of an industry divided by those who couldn’t afford to shutdown, those who were bullied into not shutting down and those who did shutdown, how we overcome the negatives here I’m not sure.

Update No 10 30/07/2008 SHUTDOWN OVER

NRTF — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 04:29:29 +0000

NATIONAL ROAD TRANSPORT FORUM

TRANSPORT INDUSTRY SHUTDOWN
Transport operators can now choose to work

After a crisis meeting today Chief Organiser of the nationwide transport
shutdown and NRTF spokesperson, Mr Mick Pattel, has urged all supporters
of the shutdown to consider returning to work

"Round one is over and the arrogant Bligh government has sent their
transport minister on holidays, making it impossible for our issues to
be heard," a frustrated Mr Pattel said this afternoon.

"The appropriate Ministers in Qld and NSW

Update No 9 29/07/2008

NRTF — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 13:39:01 +0000

Hi Everyone
The shutdown is in a holding pattern as we we regroup, the next plan will be to pull a media stunt that will put this on the front page of all media, that may bring out the T.V. interviews we did on Monday.

Clare and I will be meeting Tim Nicoll and Vaughan Johnson Wednesday I also had a meeting with Bob Katter today, he was lobbying the TWU for their support, I will be talking to Mark Crossdale from the TWU tomorrow.

Update No 8 28th July 2008

NRTF — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 12:46:54 +0000

Hi All,

The shutdown is proving to be a success in terms of numbers, and I believe that the numbers will improve over the next 24 hours.

The suggestion that we don't take safety seriously is just a poor attempt to label the industry as irresponsible, nothing could be further from the truth, that is an insult to hard working people in the road transport industry.

Update Report No 7 27/07/2008

NRTF — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 08:44:16 +0000

Hello Everyone,
WE ARE NOW IN SHUTDOWN MODE
The media blanket has been lifted and the good news is that we will be on Sunrise tomorrow, with coverage from Nine, ABC and Win TV as well, we are receiving news that major carriers in the south will not be loading any freight out on Monday, this kind of support across the country is being reported on a regular basis, the greater the impact the quicker we will achieve results, then everyone can go back to work.

Update Report No 6 26/07/2008

NRTF — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 11:15:57 +0000

Hi Everyone,
The last couple of days have been very eventful with threats of being charged as a terrorist and threat of legal action from transport and commercial businesses for damage occasioned by the ‘Industrial action’ as it is called by the author of the pro-forma letter on company letter heads, the letter originated from the same source and it’s not hard to work out where it came from.

Update No 5 24th July 2008

NRTF — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:08:09 +0000

The ALDODA group is still up to its old tricks and it is evident that they will go to great lengths to shamelessly hi-jack any event for their own agenda without any regard for what is in the best interest of the industry.
It is painfully obvious that they are only interested in their own importance; the blatant and callous disregard for the process that I have been pursuing will see this industry lose an opportunity to head off reforms that would have given some hope to everyone.

Forum Contacts

NRTF — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:47:45 +0000

Mick Pattel QLD Mob 0429-413161 Ph 0747413161
kevpat50@bigpond.net.au

Leo Fardell NSW Ph 0268844433 Mob 0429844433

Darryl Brown VIC Ph 0354353589 Mob 0408322868 darrylbrowntransport@bigpond.com

Russell Borchard VIC Ph 0350243247 Mob 0419007815 russellborchard@bigpond.com

Media Adviser QLD Clare Mildren Mob 0427787567
0741651405

Update No 4 21th July 2008

NRTF — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:34:50 +0000

Hi all
We are rapidly approaching the shutdown and still the support is growing I have engaged the services of a media adviser Clare Mildren, Clare will push our message to the general public, the last few days should see greater exposure for the shutdown

Update No 3 20th July 2008

NRTF — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 22:56:43 +0000

Hi Everyone,

Update Report No 2 17/07/2008

NRTF — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:21:19 +0000

Hi all,
On Saturday 19th July I will be travelling to Brisbane to meet with the State Transport Minister John Mickel, at 10.30am to discuss the shutdown and the changes the Government needs to address to avert this action.
I will then be meeting at 1pm with TWU Secretary Hughie Williams to find a way to work together for the good of the industry.
I will report on the outcome on my return

REPORT FROM DARRYL BROWN VIC Delegate

Wyong Meeting

NRTF — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:52:31 +0000

Hi all,
The meeting in Wyong also endorsed and added to the list of demands, number 20 is in keeping with the house keeping rules, and does not require the Government to lose ground, simply to maintain the Status Quo, which is in keeping with the intent of the demands.
A motion to support the concept of an industry shutdown was again unanimously passed.
The issue of whether or not Toll and Linfox are on board is a constant inquiry, the simple answer is no, however there is good reason to believe that many of their drivers are shutting down by taking holidays or resigning.

National Transport Shutdown Update10/07/2008

NRTF — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:00:11 +0000

Hello everyone,

Progress Report 1/07/2008

NRTF — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 10:18:17 +0000

Hi Everyone,
The meeting in Dubbo was well attended and very constructive.
The motion to support the shutdown was carried unanimously.
The motion to endorse the list of demands was carried with five against, they felt the list was too long.

It was explained that the list addressed the new transport reforms and the rest was 'housekeeping' which did not place unrealistic expectations on the Government.
Leo Fardell was elected as the delegate for NSW and will be part of the shutdown process when we meet with Government to put our case.

List of Demands from the Road Transport Forum 2008

NRTF — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 01:36:00 +0000

Not Negotiable

Disbanding of the National Transport Commission immediately.
No electronic recording systems, or work dairies.
No changes in the present log book format.
No demerit points on log books, or driving hours regulations.
Recoupment of demerit points for professional drivers who earn their living from their licence to be reduced to 12 months not the existing 36 months.

Queensland / National Road Transport Forum

NRTF — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 01:07:38 +0000

Subject: Queensland / National Road Transport Forum

To whom it may concern

The links below will give you the information you need to know about the new driving laws and registration increases about to be introduced; I believe that transport operators and the rural sector will feel the impact of these new regulations very quickly as we will need to change the way we do business at the moment.

Add to this the new registration charges and fuel excise increases and being ‘On the land’ will become too expensive for many small to medium Graziers and Farmers.