MUA delegation visit Gunnedah

A delegation of maritime workers is in the heartland of Deputy PM and Transport Minister John Anderson today to raise public awareness about the government policy of sinking Australian shipping and inviting guestworkers on our coast.

The delegation is seeking a meeting with the Deputy PM, before leaving for Tamworth tomorrow to meet with the labour council and other community groups.

The delegation will be distributing brochures and the following leaflet in Mr Anderson's electorate:

Questions you should be asking your local member!

DEPUTY PM AND MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT JOHN ANDERSON, Gwydir, NSW

Why are you promoting cut rate, substandard foreign shipping on the Australian coast at the cost of Australian jobs, the marine environment and national security?

Why is your government tightening security checks for tourists, immigrants and asylum seekers, when foreign crew are automatically granted special visas to work in Australian waters for months at a time?

Are you aware that at the same time you were encouraging a foreign shipping company to go offshore, sack Australian workers and return to the Australian coast flying the Bahamas flag of convenience with Ukranian guest workers, intelligence agencies across the world were examining the links between FOC shipping and terrorist networks? Or that Osama bin Laden boasts a multimillion dollar secret fleet, under a variety of flags of convenience, that he uses to ship goods, arms, drugs and recruits worldwide?

Do you know that Flag of Convenience (FOC) ships have also been arrested for people smuggling and money laundering in recent months?

You talk about cheap freight rates, but what about the 263 'crew' who jumped ship in Australia, avoiding immigration between March 1996 and April 1999? Only 148 were ever located. Can you tell us who they are or where they are?

Are you aware that FOC shipping is responsible for the majority of oil spills and marine pollution?

Don't you care that a parliamentary report chaired by Paul Neville (National Party) found that abuse of crew on FOC shipping on our coastline is getting worse and we are doing nothing to stop it?

And, finally, Mr Anderson, as a member of cabinet, why won't you release the reports your government commissioned on shipping which recommend retaining an Australian merchant fleet on both economic and defence grounds?

Do you know that an international study conducted by Cardiff University ,Wales rated seafarers on Australian flagged vessels as world's best?

Don't you care about the one in eight Australian seafarers who gave their lives during WWII?

Authorised by Sean Chaffer, Maritime Union of Australia, 265 Sussex Street, Sydney, 2000

For further information

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