Australia's truckers seek protection from rising fuel costs
Updated
Truck drivers are calling on the Australian government to intervene to give them more protection from the rising cost of fuel.
A group of drivers and union officials gathered outside Parliament House to lobby for a national system of cost recovery during petrol price spikes.
Currently truck drivers absorb the cost of rising petrol, rather than the clients who hire them to transport goods.
The Transport Workers Union's, Tony Sheldon, says the added cost is destroying the industry and the government needs to step in.
"This fuel crisis is hitting us right now," he said.
"It means that thousands of small businesses are at a knife's edge of collapsing.
"It's critical that government moves forward in making legislation for safe sustainable rates allowing our drivers to be able to get cost recovery to make our roads safe."
