Source: Workplace Express - Subscription Service (17.03.2026)
The FWC will convene a conference tomorrow afternoon to weigh a joint TWU-ARTIO call to urgently consider imposing fuel surcharges on customers to ensure continued operation of the transport supply chain, due to supply constraints arising from the Iran war.
Vice President Mark Gibian will hear the parties after the union and employer organisation wrote to President Adam Hatcher on Friday, seeking that he bring together parties to the applications for minimum standards orders and contractual chain orders.
The TWU and ARTIO observed that each of those applications include provisions "relating to either the review of existing rates afforded to regulated workers and/or seeks to establish appropriate cost recovery rates for those workers and operators in transport supply chains".
While those matters are "currently progressing", the TWU and ARTIO say the recent international events have triggered an urgent need to seek assistance from the Commission to address "extreme increases to the price of fuel costs that have the very real prospect of halting road transport supply chains, with dire consequences for the Australian community".
They say that in the week ending March 8, the average national diesel price rose by 8%.
ARTIO secretary Peter Anderson said the application "encourages the whole industry to share the burden of sky-rocketing fuel costs, rather than shunting it on to those at the bottom of the chain".
"It brings together workers, transport companies, gig platforms and transport clients to drive a fair solution for all."
TWU/ARTIO letter to FWC President Adam Hatcher, March 15, 2026