Hundreds of truck drivers, industry leaders and gig workers have descended on the nation's capital to call for safety reforms after dozens of drivers died behind the wheel in the last year.

More than 100 vehicles arrived at Parliament House in Canberra on Saturday, driven by truckers, Uber drivers, couriers, transport employers and members of industry associations.

Truck convoys were also expected at state parliaments in Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.

The push for reform comes after more than 50 transport workers were killed at work in the last 11 months.

Pressures on supply chains and gig economy workers have put further strain on drivers, employees and employers, who say the industry is dangerous and urgently needs reform.

An Uber driver of seven years told the rally the gig economy made it hard for drivers to support themselves and was not sustainable.

"All I've seen is our rates being reduced further and further, and over the past seven years I've heard stories from far and wide, and none of them are positive," said the driver, named Rosalina.

"We cannot keep going like this. It's not healthy for anybody.

"At the moment, we have no superannuation, no holiday pay, and most importantly to me no sick leave.

"All Australian drivers are being undercut. We're all being impacted."

Transport Workers' Union national secretary Michael Kaine said it had never been harder for drivers to make a decent living, and conditions were continuing to deteriorate.

"We know only too well how deadly our industry is," Mr Kaine said.

"There is decades of evidence demonstrating the danger associating with the trucking industry.

"If workers in transport are not looked after, if they aren't paid enough, if they don't have the right terms and conditions, then they die.

"And too often when they die Australian road users die as well."

Canberra-based paramedic Darren Neville told the crowd frontline workers are particularly agonised by the devastation of truck crashes.

"As soon as you hear a call come in and it's an accident, especially if trucks are involved, you can hear the distress in people's voices," he said.

Last August a report tabled in the Senate included 10 recommendations to improve the trucking industry, however none have been implemented by the Commonwealth.

A key recommendation calls for an independent body with the power to set universal, binding standards for operators.

The industry has united behind the recommended reforms and wants them implemented, National Road Freighters Association president Rod Hannifey said.

"Truck drivers and truck companies share the same concerns about the current crisis in transport," he said.

"The industry is at breaking point and everyone is feeling it. That's why we've come together for change."

The transport union said industries are also concerned about the "Amazon effect" on driver safety, as international companies attempt to pay workers per parcel delivered.

The union staged a similar protest earlier this month at Hobart's Parliament House over the government's inaction on Senate recommendations.

© AAP 2022

Police have seized millions of dollars worth of illicit drugs, dismantled a clandestine drug lab and discovered an underground bikie clubhouse during a major operation targeting organised crime in NSW and Queensland.

Operation Viking, launched 12 days ago, led to police confiscating $4.5 million in drugs - including cocaine, methylamphetamine and cannabis - $150,000 in cash, seven firearms, luxury cars and jewellery.

NSW Police launched Operation Viking to target organised crime networks operating across the Northern Rivers and Gold Coast border towns, leading to the discovery of a drug lab and significant amounts of chemicals used to manufacture drugs.

The Australian Federal Police played a key role due to its ability to gather intelligence across state lines, AFP assistant commissioner Lesa Gale said.

"Our message is simple. We will not stop in our mission to outsmart you and to protect the Australian community," she told media on Saturday.

NSW acting assistant commissioner Jason Weinstein said the two-week covert operation was aimed at better understanding organised crime in the border area.

"We know criminal organisations were establishing themselves across the north coast because of its lucrative drug market and a perceived idea the area is relatively free of scrutiny from law enforcement," he said.

The operation allowed police to gain a deeper understanding of the degree of ill-gotten wealth in the area, and the illicit trades made by organised crime groups, he said.

Mr Weinstein said the Pacific Highway between Sydney and the Gold Coast is a "drug trade route", and other passages were also known to police, including from northern Queensland through to the Gold Coast.

"The reality was the people who were targeted in this operation over the last two weeks all reside in this catchment area," he said.

"Our point of view, this was probably a first and it's something that will continue until we dismantle all those groups and people who are residing in these areas."

The operation included a search on a Bilambil Heights home occupied by a 36-year-old member of the Mongols bikie gang where police said they found an underground bar festooned with Mongols paraphernalia, a motorbike, alcohol and a price list.

"They've constructed a bunker scenario, and inside that bunker was Mongols memorabilia," Mr Weinstein said.

"That was obviously a location where the Mongols themselves in that particular chapter believe that they were free, being hidden from police where they could congregate, obviously talk about business and socialise."

The items were seized and the bar dismantled.

Police also declared a crime scene after they visited a home at Ewingsdale to a serve a 44-year-old man with a firearm prohibition notice.

Officers later took luxury watches, $10,000 in cash and electronic devices from the man's home.

A 53-year-old Tweed Heads man was charged with dealing with the proceeds of crime and drug offences after police allegedly discovered cannabis, 130 grams of white powder believed to be cocaine and $18,000 in cash at his property.

He was granted conditional bail and will appear in Tweed Heads Local Court next month.

A 27-year-old was charged with firearm offences after police allegedly discovered a loaded rifle at his Tweed Heads home on Tuesday. He will appear in Tweed Heads Local Court in September.

© AAP 2022

Nathan Cleary will come into Penrith's finals campaign cold after receiving a five-game suspension for his spear tackle on Parramatta's Dylan Brown.

Cleary was sent off for the first time in his career in Friday's 34-10 loss to the Eels and won't play again during the regular season.

He was handed a grade-three dangerous throw charge by the NRL's match review committee on Saturday morning.

Similar tackles this year have resulted in four-game bans but owing to a previous charge in Penrith's game with Brisbane earlier this year Cleary is facing a five-game spell.

If he takes the early guilty plea - a course of action which is likely for the Panthers, who are already without five-eighth Jarome Luai for the next month due to a knee injury - he would return for week one of the finals.

Cleary will miss Penrith's five remaining regular season games against Canberra, Melbourne, South Sydney, the Warriors and North Queensland as they aim to wrap up the minor premiership.

In the unlikely event he fights the charge and then loses at the judiciary, Cleary will miss six games.

Thankfully for both Cleary and Brown, the Parramatta five-eighth suffered no serious injury after being driven into the ground at CommBank Stadium head first.

Brown said he was shocked at the collision but didn't believe there was any malice or intent from Cleary.

Cleary, whose hopes of winning the Dally M Medal are now over, expressed regret on Friday night.

"Massive apologies for tonight (Friday)," he posted on Instagram.

"(I'm) filthy at myself for such a dumb moment that let the boys and the fans down.

"I'm not about that, it was a terrible technique and I need to be better."

With Luai and Cleary sidelined, Penrith coach Ivan Cleary will be forced to lean heavily on Sean O'Sullivan, Kurt Falls and Jaeman Salmon over the next five weeks.

The halfback lost control of Brown while involved in a tackle with Liam Martin and James Fisher-Harris in the 17th minute of Friday's game.

It left referee Todd Smith with no option but to send the playmaker off.

He was the first Panthers player to be dismissed in an NRL game since Travis Burns in 2012.

"I think all the boys know if they've been in that position they would feel the same," said Ivan.

"I don't think he meant to do it. He's done a fair bit for our team over the years.

"I know Nat pretty well and this will fuel his fire for later."

© AAP 2022

Hundreds of truck drivers and industry leaders will descend on the nation's capital to call for safety reforms after dozens of drivers died behind the wheel in the last year.

More than 100 vehicles are expected at Parliament House on Saturday, driven by truck drivers, couriers, gig workers, transport employers and members of associations, the Trade Workers Union says.

Truck convoys are also expected at state parliaments in Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.

The push comes after more than 50 transport workers were killed at work in the last 11 months.

As pressures on supply chains and gig economy workers puts further strain on drivers, employees and employers say the industry urgently needs reform.

Last August a report tabled in the Senate included 10 recommendations to improve the trucking industry, however none have been implemented by the Commonwealth.

A key recommendation calls for an independent body with the power to set universal, binding standards for operators.

TWU national secretary Michael Kaine said it had never been harder for truck drivers to make a decent living, and conditions were continuing to deteriorate.

"With wealthy clients at the top of supply chains squeezing transport costs, and exploitative gig models infiltrating more of the transport industry, companies are under pressure to follow suit or risk being pushed out of the market," Mr Kaine said in a statement.

"That's a deadly recipe, and it's why some unexpected allies have come together to call for life-saving transport reform."

He said major operators including Uber will be represented at the convoy to call for industry reform.

The industry has united behind the recommended reforms and wants them implemented, National Road Freighters Association president Rod Hannifey said.

"Truck drivers and truck companies share the same concerns about the current crisis in transport," he said.

"The industry is at breaking point and everyone is feeling it. That's why we've come together for change."

The transport union said industries are also concerned about the "Amazon effect" on driver safety, as international companies attempt to pay workers per parcel delivered.

The union staged a similar protest earlier this month at Hobart's Parliament House over the government's inaction on Senate recommendations.

© AAP 2022