The newly minted Transport Minister David Elliott has confessed he was astonished to hear shorts are a big issue in the industry. 

Mr Elliott recently inherited the problem-plagued portfolio in a cabinet reshuffle by Premier Dominic Perrottet.

He told John Stanley there’s been an ongoing issue of whether rail workers should be allowed to wear shorts as part of their uniform.

“I was just quietly surprised in the first briefing I got from my office that that was one of the disputes … we were going to be addressing in the new year.

“One minute I’m told it’s OHS, the next minute I’m told it’s for aesthetic, the next minute I’m told it’s because the bosses don’t want the station attendants to get sunburnt.

“I figure if our lifesavers can wear shorts to save our lives, police can wear shorts, I think we use that wonderful invention called sunscreen and let them wear shorts.”

Press PLAY below to hear how the Transport Minister is addressing other issues in his portfolio