BY IAN JAMIESON
PERTH — Rising fuel costs have sparked a number of protests here, culminating in a 1500-strong rally outside Parliament House on September 7. With petrol and diesel prices reaching the $1 or more per litre mark, anger at the federal government's deceit over resource rent tax, petrol excise and the GST is palpable.
In the preceding weeks, owner-drivers organised by the Transport Workers Union held blockades at Kewdale and on the Fremantle wharves. Truckies are amongst the hardest hit by the surge in fuel prices. The TWU estimates that fuel bills have risen 40% over the last year — around $200 a week for many owner-drivers.
Fuel prices may force many truck drivers to the wall. The industry is already known for the cut-throat competitiveness of the big transport companies.
TWU organiser Glen Searle accused the federal government of playing with smoke and mirrors on transport costs. Figures released by the WA Motor Trades Association (MTA) revealed the federal government is making $12.5 million a day on its resource rent tax alone. The imposition of the GST, increasing world oil prices and a petrol excise of $13 billion a year has exposed Prime Minister John Howard's brazen lies about transport costs being cheaper under a Coalition government.
The anger at Howard and his cronies in the WA Liberal Party was clearly evident at the September 7 rally. Organised by the WA MTA, with substantial backing from the big business Sunday Times and Perth commercial radio stations, the official speaking list included WA Premier Richard Court. He was roundly booed and heckled by truckies as he attempted to shift the blame from Canberra. State Labor opposition leader Geoff Gallop fared little better.