A video shared by One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts has reignited debate over concerns about Indian truck drivers in Australia, months after the issue was raised during a Senate committee hearing in February 2026.
In the video, Roberts refers to concerns reportedly raised by truck drivers in Western Australia and Queensland about Indian migrants allegedly obtaining heavy vehicle licences too easily or operating without the required licences.
The issue was discussed during a Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee hearing on 9 February 2026, when representatives of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) were questioned about unlicensed and inadequately trained drivers.
During the hearing, Roberts asked whether particular nationalities or ethnic groups appeared more frequently in reports involving unlicensed or untrained drivers.
He said he had heard from truck drivers in Western Australia and Queensland that “a lot of Indians are getting licences very easily – or not getting licences”, while acknowledging that the concerns were anecdotal.
NHVR representative Rosie told the committee that the regulator’s risk-based approach was ethnicity-agnostic. She said the regulator had not identified a particular ethnic profile among higher-risk operators, with enforcement action based on operator behaviour and assessed safety risks.
The NHVR acknowledged an increase in concerns involving unlicensed or inappropriately licensed drivers and said it was undertaking surveillance and targeted operations to address compliance issues.
However, responsibility for driver licensing rests with state and territory authorities. The regulator said jurisdictions were examining ways to improve consistency in training and qualification requirements.
The hearing also discussed the employment of overseas workers in the transport sector. While employers can recruit migrants to address workforce shortages, new arrivals must still meet Australian licensing requirements before driving heavy vehicles.
The NHVR said it was also working on improved data matching across agencies, including linking Australian Business Numbers with driver risk profiles to strengthen monitoring of operators.
The debate comes as Australia’s road transport industry continues to face a significant shortage of truck drivers.
Industry estimates have put the shortfall at about 28,000 drivers, while a substantial proportion of the existing workforce is approaching retirement age.
An ABC report in January 2026 highlighted the industry’s ageing workforce, with almost half of truck drivers aged 55 or older, raising concerns about the need to attract and retain new workers.
At the same time, Indian and Punjabi truck drivers have reported experiencing racism and intimidation while working on Australian roads.
An ABC investigation published in January 2026 documented accounts of racist abuse, death threats, spitting and racial slurs directed at Indian truck drivers, including abuse broadcast over UHF radios.
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