Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee [Part 2], , 3:26:38 to 3:32:24
The committee investigates the $18.2 million procurement of e-trikes and subsequent safety concerns regarding staff fatigue. Management explains the plan to redeploy modified vehicles for parcel delivery after extensive testing.
Topics: Workplace culture, Procurement
Speakers: Mr. Paul Graham, Senator Sarah Henderson, Speaker 1, Unknown Speaker
>> I want to quickly turn to the gaas ebikes. Yes. >> So thank you for providing that further information that that cost $18.2 $2 million. You indicated you were going to be able to provide the injury data in to the information that you hold. Have you got that further information that you could hand up to us?
>> Uh we have uh obviously a broad range of safety data. Uh we don't uh have data recorded at an individual uh piece of equipment level. Uh uh what I can say on the gas uh is that we had no significant injuries reported. What we had reported was fatigue predominantly in relation to those uh vehicles. Uh we introduced those vehicles into the fleet to predominantly reduce the motorbike rounds that we have which are the most dangerous rounds of all. Uh as we and we did full testing of those vehicles along with the uh union and with uh rel relative experts. Uh and that testing provided uh very positive feedback. However, nothing uh replaces testing in reality. uh as we put those bikes into service uh and we looked at the different terrains that they were uh on uh we were getting feedback from our team members around fatigue and around certain terrains that they didn't uh maybe operate uh to the optimum level uh as a precaution. We pulled that fleet uh off uh off
>> I mean Mr. Graeme this is this is a a pretty serious issue $18.2 $2 million spent on acquiring 500 E trikes from Taiwan which were not fit for purpose.
>> Uh they were fit for purpose, Senator, in relation to the testing that we had done. Uh and in the trials that we conducted with
>> not fit for purpose in relation to the purpose for which you acquired them.
>> I I dispute that, Senator. I dispute that. Um we have uh
>> I'm not going to live on an alternative planet to you, Mr. Graeme. You withdrew the vehicles
>> as a precaution, Senator, based on >> based on based on feedback from our team members. Of course, safety is the most important thing because we were getting feedback that in certain terrains, not all team members were complaining about the bikes, but as a precaution, we withdrew all bikes from the fleet as we would do in common sense to ensure that we validated any of the feedback that we got just in case it was wide wider spread than we anticipated. We didn't have a significant number of complaints but again as a precaution we withdrew those bikes from the fleet. We have now taken some of that feedback. We have work with independent experts. We have applied different uh um uh different changes to that bike uh uh and have now started to redeploy them back into action.
>> So you're going to have you've indicated you're going to redeploy about 100 or so
back >> 150. Senator, we're starting redeployment 150 and we'll continue to take feedback. This is no different to the uh other EVs that we have in our fleet where we're now in the fifth version of those bikes and we continue to take feedback from our team members and continue to look at how we improve both the ridability of those vehicles as well as the safety.
>> Okay. So, what changes have you made to the trikes and they'll be used for a different purpose for delivering to
go back to also being used for the original uh task that they were uh that they were intended for but again with modifications and uh as I say every piece of equipment we've introduced in relation to ride-on vehicles uh we've always made modifications after a series of field testing uh there's a a list of
>> why didn't you conduct the testing beforehand so you you spent $18.2 $2 million. >> You went out and and bought 500 E trikes. You you can I put to you you didn't do the appropriate testing. You should have done the testing prior to the acquisition because that's an enormous amount of money to lose.
>> Senator, we have not lost that money. First of all, those bikes will be redeployed. >> Hang on. Secondly, Senator,
>> so no, let's let's be clear here. there's an $18.2 million acquisition. They were all taken off the road, put in warehouses. You're going to redeploy 150 only. Is that correct?
>> We're starting to redeploy in the first batch of redeployment is about 150 vehicles.
>> And what's going to happen to the rest of them?
>> They will get redeployed, Senator. I've already made that point.
>> Well, that wasn't clear in your to be frank in your answer to your the question on notice. >> So, you're going to be redeploying all of the vehicles?
>> That would be our intention, Senator. And again, uh, we will take, uh, we're taking caution to deploy the 150 with the modifications to make sure those modifications are indeed going to ensure that those vehicles are the safest possible. We did extensive testing before we purchased those vehicles in line with external experts uh, as well as with uh, the union involved heavily with that testing. However, nothing replaces real life on the road dayto-day work. And as we deployed those vehicles and obviously in a testing environment it's impossible to deploy those vehicles in every single part of Australia. As we found that we deployed them into different terrain and they were up against uh different road conditions uh that we were getting feedback that they were causing issues with the team members fatigue being predominantly one of them in relation to the bike actually rides and as a precaution.
>> Why were people getting fatigued? uh
it's because of the nature of the way that the bike actually moves and also uh because of the way that the bike has to sit as they are putting mail into uh the letter box. Uh it's the turning movement and also because the bike sits on a gyro um uh they found on certain terrains, not all terrains, uh that it was more fatiguing in their arms and shoulders.
>> I Okay, thanks very much Mr. Graham.
Just going to give Senator Roberts chance. Senator Roberts.