Big Blenners take-down delayed, refined
The Queensland Government will pay thousands in legal costs after it dropped over 700 charges against one trucking company.
The Queensland's Department of Transport had laid 740 charges against Blenners Transport and four of its employees after news reports revealed widespread illegal activity.
Blenners is one of North Queensland’s major operators across many industries, and is known for hauling northern bananas around the country.
But the media reports showed it runs on a platform of extensive, systemic breaches of fatigue management laws and regulations.
It was revealed that around 45 Blenners drivers or former drivers had pleaded guilty to over 150 offences, receiving fines of more than $65,000.
Despite dozens of breaches, the Queensland Government allowed Blenners Transport to have its fatigue management accreditation renewed in 2012, and again when the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator came into place.
One whistleblower told reporters that the company enforced ridiculous timetables and created fatigue “on an unprecedented level”.
“I was sacked because I put it in writing that the trucks were breaking the law,” he said.
The transport department has now dropped the charges against Blenners, saying it is pursuing the company and one director on over 50 charges across other Queensland court jurisdictions.
The department is looking at 26 charges against the director and 27 charges against the company, which are similar charges to those that were dismissed.
The Tully Magistrates Court has ruled that the department pay $3,500 in legal costs to Blenners while the new allegations are finalised.