TOWING BUSINESSES FORCED OFF ROAD AS MINISTER FAILS TO CLEAR AUTHORISATION BACKLOG

Scores of towing operators have been forced off the road today after the Cook Labor Government failed to process crash towing authorisation applications before the 1 September deadline.

As of last night, at least 21 businesses said they had received no decision from the Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure, leaving them unable to legally undertake crash towing work and putting at least 84 jobs at risk.

Under the Towing Services Act 2024, every regulated crash towing business in Perth and Peel must hold a Towing Business Authorisation from 1 September. Operating without one carries penalties of up to $40,000 for an individual and $200,000 for a body corporate.

Businesses were given only around 13 working days to lodge applications by the Department’s recommended date if they wanted them assessed before the deadline.

Last week, the State Opposition backed industry calls for urgent intervention by Transport Minister Rita Saffioti amid warnings applications would remain unresolved by 1 September.

On Friday, a State Government spokesperson said 18 businesses had been approved and that 30 were expected to be authorised by Tuesday, with departmental staff working through the weekend.

However, the Department’s website this morning listed only 22 authorised businesses. Shadow Transport and Small Business Minister Steve Martin said legitimate operators should not lose work because of the government’s inability to meet its own deadline.

“The Opposition supports cleaning up the towing industry and getting dodgy operators off our roads,” he said.

“But legitimate businesses should not be shut down because their application is still sitting on the Department’s desk.

“At least 21 businesses went into today without an answer, putting at least 84 jobs at risk. That is a bureaucratic failure the Minister was warned about and had the opportunity to fix.

“Industry raised the alarm, the Opposition called for intervention and the Minister failed to act. Minister Saffioti’s suggestion that crash towing only returned to her portfolio three weeks ago is no comfort to businesses being prevented from operating today.

“They don’t care which Minister received the portfolio in a reshuffle. They care whether they can open their doors, employ their workers and earn a living.

“The Government had ample warning that this deadline was approaching. It was its responsibility to make sure legitimate operators weren’t caught in a bureaucratic bottleneck of its own making.

Media contact: Hon Steve Martin MLC – 0428 886 062

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