The push to get goods into WA in the wake of flooding and border disruptions nearly ended in tragedy when four trucks were engulfed by fire.
Brake lining on one of the trucks caught fire and rapidly spread to the other heavy vehicles as they waited at a Covid checkpoint.
No injuries were reported, but trucking industry representatives say it’s an example of the difficult situation facing drivers and freight companies.
South Australian Road Transport Association executive director Steve Shearer slammed WA authorities for failing to address lengthy delays at the border.
“There’s a lot more trucks than normal and they’re held up for lengthy delays while the WA police administer the border checks and RAT testing process,” Mr Shearer told 6PR radio.
“The WA government and its agencies are not recognising the critical role that truckings is playing and they could do a number of things that would improve the situation.”
WA continues txjmtzywo maintain the strictest entry conditions in the country, which has divided those on both sides of the border.
Premier Mark McGowan said state officials were doing the best they could for the situation.
“The Eucla checkpoint is out in the middle of the desert,” Mr McGowan said.
“A brake lining fire is not really something we could’ve predicted.”
WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said police in the area acted fast to ensure nobody was hurt and should not be blamed for contributing to the damage in any way.
A spokesperson for the WA Road Transport industry commended the “ongoing professionalism and constructive manner” with which the border post was being run.
Mr Shearer said the fire spreading to other trucks could easily have been avoided.
“Having that many trucks parked that close together, and the drivers all in a tent waiting to be RAT tested instead of being with their trucks,” he said.
“We don’t blame WA police for the fire starting – but we certainly are very frustrated that they exacerbated the problem by their RAT processing at the border.”
Mr Shearer said some truck drivers had faced “outrageous” treatment by WA authorities, in one case turing a driver back when he was half way to his destination after requirements for booster vaccinations changed.
“When you’re travelling 2500 kilometres to deliver food you really need to know what the deal is before you leave, not halfway through,” he said.
Mr Shearer said he understood rules regarding boosters and PCR tests had recently been relaxed, improving the situation for drivers.
