Business On Wrong Side of Road Debate

"Business representative groups using half page ads in today's daily papers to attack the Land Transport Management Bill are way off track," said Council of Trade Unions secretary Paul Goulter today."The message of the ads is to drop any barriers to privatisation of our roads and go full steam ahead without consultation," he said.

Paul Goulter said workers were worried about the inevitable high tolls associated with this message.

"The private sector obviously has a role to play in building roads," said Paul Goulter.

"But it is essential that our road transport legislation contains a rigorous PPP process with adequate consultation to ensure that the environment, the community and workers don't lose out and the state is not ripped off."

Paul Goulter said that business calls to remove 'efficiency' tests were simplistic.

"The economic development tests in the Bill are broader than efficiency tests and more sustainable," he said.