Indian-born truck drivers in Australia are reporting increased incidents of racism and discrimination. These experiences include physical assaults, verbal abuse, and death threats, particularly transmitted over CB radio and shared on social media platforms.
Examples of abuse reported by drivers include being spat on at truck stops, being called derogatory names such as "currymuncher", and hearing explicit death threats against the Indian community over CB radio. Racist memes and AI-generated imagery ridiculing truck drivers of South Asian descent are also present on social media groups.
Indians represent Australia's fastest-growing migrant group over the last decade, often filling chronic labor shortages in the freight industry. In 2024, Australia faced an estimated shortage of 28,000 heavy vehicle drivers. For many Sikh and Punjabi migrants, truck driving aligns with historical connections to transport in India.
Official complaints regarding these incidents are infrequent. Challenges to reporting include difficulties in identifying perpetrators, language barriers, limited understanding of workplace rights, and a lack of confidence in the reporting process. Truck drivers note that CB radio communication, with its short range and anonymity, contributes to unchecked abusive conduct.
Sarah Anderson, a professor of Workplace Health, Safety and Wellbeing at Monash University, indicated that while specific data on racism against overseas-born truck drivers in Australia is limited, the issue is documented in countries like the United States, United Kingdom, and Europe. She highlighted that racism exacerbates the inherent stresses of truck driving, potentially impacting driver safety and decision-making. Acts of racism and discrimination are illegal under state and territory law.
Australia's regulatory framework for the freight industry is fragmented. Authorities like the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, which manages operational compliance, do not regulate communication platforms or workplace conduct. Safe Work Australia, responsible for national health and safety policy, defers complaint handling and enforcement to state and territory governments. State workplace safety regulators have reported not receiving complaints from truck drivers about racism, but advise drivers to report abuse for investigation.
Both the Australian Human Rights Commission and industry bodies acknowledge the issue. The commission states that making individual complaints is difficult when perpetrators cannot be identified and emphasizes employers' responsibility to safeguard employees against psychosocial harm. It recommends a systemic approach involving employers, representative organizations, and unions to collaboratively address racism.
Bianca D'Rosario from the Australian Trucking Association's diversity and inclusion program confirmed awareness of a "growing degree of racism" against Indian-born drivers. This is partly attributed to newer drivers' unfamiliarity with Australian roads and a perceived lack of adequate training. The ATA suggests better training and more consistent, stricter licensing regimes across states to improve safety for all new entrants and address perceptions of differing skill levels. Glyn Castanelli, president of the National Road Freighters Association, advocates for mandatory licensing or accreditation for transport operators to ensure proper training and experience verification.