Maritime Union of Australia: General: Shipping Review A Last Chance to Save Australian Shipping

The Maritime Union of Australia today welcomed the Federal Government's parliamentary review of shipping as a last chance to safeguard Australia's maritime future.

MUA National Secretary Paddy Crumlin said under the Howard Government the Australian shipping fleet had declined by around one third.

"It's great that we now have a government prepared to accept the reality that an island nation needs a maritime capability," Mr Crumlin said.

The MUA looks forward to participating in the enquiry and in particular will raise issues around lack of regulation and investment in the industry resulting in:

• ongoing abuse of the shipping permit system for Australian coastal freight which has seen a third of Australian vessels being decommissioned or re-flagged in 'Flag of Convenience' tax havens during the Howard years,

• Australia's national security put at risk by failure to enforce international standards around the movement of terror-sensitive materials on the Australian coast, and

• the lack of a comprehensive plan to address the emerging seafarer labour shortage and to promote maritime skills development.

"This is a vital enquiry and could well represent our last chance to retain a viable Australian shipping fleet.

"The fact that an announcement has come on the edge of the first 100 days in office demonstrates that the Government is serious about shipping and about a nationally integrated transport plan where coastal shipping has a role," said Mr Crumlin.

Contact	:	Maritime Union of Australia
Phone	:	+61 2 9267 9134
Fax	:	+61 2 9261 3481
Email	:	muano@mua.org.au
WWW	:	http://mua.org.au/

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