Overview
- The Fair Work Commission, which issued the binding order Monday, will require twice‑monthly fuel‑price reviews and rate adjustments starting Tuesday so subcontracted truckers can recover higher diesel costs.
- Coles, Woolworths and Amazon are among the top‑of‑chain companies named to hold the reviews with their transport providers and to factor fuel spikes into existing contracts.
- The order stays in force until retail diesel falls below $2 per litre, with a check after one month and then every three months to judge if the settings still fit.
- Commissioners said fuel has jumped from about 20–30% of typical costs to as high as 40–50% for some operators, which has pushed many owner‑drivers to park trucks or tap personal loans to keep going.
- Unions welcomed a lifeline for supply chains while several large companies fought parts of the plan in hearings, and a retail expert warned some costs may reach shoppers even as big supermarkets have been absorbing pressure.