TOWING OPERATORS FACE SHUTDOWN AS DEADLINE LOOMS

Media Release | 28 August 2026
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Hon Steve Martin MLC
Shadow Minister for Transport; Ports; Small Business; Communities
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The State Opposition has backed calls for urgent ministerial intervention to prevent crash towing operators being forced out of work from 1 September, while their applications remain unassessed by the Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure (DTMI).
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Under the Towing Services Act 2024, every regulated crash towing business in Perth and Peel must hold a Towing Business Authorisation from 1 September 2026. Operating without one carries penalties of up to $40,000 for an individual and $200,000 for a body corporate.
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The application portal opened on 1 July, with DTMI advising businesses to lodge by 19 July to provide sufficient time for assessment.
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That allows operators around 13 working days to navigate a new application system, obtain police clearances for applicants, responsible officers and towing workers, and ensure insurance arrangements met the new statutory requirements.
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Towing businesses have written to Transport Director General Peter Woronzow seeking conditional authorisations to allow operators with outstanding applications to continue working while assessments are finalised.
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The Western Australian Tow Truck Owners and Drivers Association (WATTODA) have also written to Transport Minister Rita Saffioti seeking urgent intervention before the 1 September deadline.
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Shadow Transport Minister Steve Martin said operators who had made every effort to comply should not be punished because their applications had not yet been processed.
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"The Government gave operators around 13 working days to get their applications in, while telling them assessments could take six to eight weeks," Mr Martin said.

"You don't need a calculator to see the problem.
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"Small family businesses that lodged their applications, cooperated with the process and did everything asked of them are now facing the prospect of being unable to work from Tuesday because the Government has not finished assessing them.
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"That is neither fair nor reasonable."
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Mr Martin said the Minister had told Parliament on 11 August that the legislation allowed the CEO to consider individual circumstances, including matters outside an applicant's direct control and evidence of progress towards compliance.
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"Nobody is asking for special treatment, they're just asking to be dealt with fairly," Mr Martin said.
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"They are asking for a practical solution that allows legitimate operators who have done the right thing to keep working while the State Government finishes processing their applications.
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"The Opposition supported the intent of these towing reforms, but good legislation can still be undermined by poor implementation.
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"WATTODA has raised legitimate concerns and deserves more than silence from the State Government.
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"Minister Saffioti needs to provide urgent certainty and ensure conditional authorisations are granted where it is fair and reasonable before the 1 September deadline."
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Media contact: Hon Steve Martin MLC - 0428 886 062

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