Published: 6 Dec 2014
Maritime Union of Australia Deputy National Secretary Mick Doleman hit the corridors of power this week to lobby the Federal Parliament on fuel security, the Coastal Trading Act, Seafarers’ Tax Offset, possible Senate inquiry into 457 visas and the Abbott Government’s disgraceful new asylum seeker laws.
Doleman was joined by MUA Northern Territory Branch Secretary Thomas Mayor, and together they met with 14 MPs and Senators.
With the final week of sittings for the Parliamentary year, it was important to get into politicians’ ears before the long break.
It turned out to be a busy day, starting with Labor Transport spokesman Anthony Albanese to talk about Coastal Shipping, followed by ALP Tasmanian MP Julie Collins.
The delegation then visited several Labor MPs to gather support for the Our Coast. Our Fuel. Our Security campaign.
Those who posed for photographs from the Labor side were Member for Cunningham Sharon Bird, Member for Throsby Stephen Jones, Member for Fremantle Melissa Parke, Member for Kingsford Smith Matt Thistlethwaite, Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon, Member for Fowler Chris Hayes, Member for Lingiari Warren Snowdon, Member for Maribyrnong Kelvin Thomson, WA Senator Sue Lines and NT Senator Nova Peris.
The delegation also thanked Greens Victorian Senator Janet Rice, who along with Greens Member for Melbourne Adam Bandt, put out a supportive public statement during the Tandara Spirit dispute.
On the same day as the visit, the Australian Automobile Association released joint statement regarding the protection of Australia's fuel security.
The MUA was a signatory to the statement and the delegation met with Independent Victorian Senator John Madigan to thank him for his ongoing support for the campaign.
The text of the joint statement in Support of a Comprehensive Transport Energy Plan for Australia is below:
We call on the Federal Government to prepare a comprehensive Transport Energy Plan for Australia to ensure the safety, well-being and prosperity of all Australians is protected in the event of disruption to national fuel supplies. The Australian Government’s Energy Green Paper acknowledges the problem of energy security but does not fully explain the risks to the Australian public.
Transport fuel is the lifeblood of our society and our economy. Any major disruption to transport fuel supplies would quickly be felt across all parts of society and across every sector of our economy. For example, stockholding for vital goods (such as medicines, foods and transport fuel itself) can be as little as 3–10 days at the point of sale in many cases. Our world is increasingly volatile and any severe disruption of our fuel supplies would cause catastrophic economic impacts along with disruption to food supplies, medical and hospital supplies, military capability, emergency services and our general social cohesion. The Federal Government needs to better explain these risks to the Australian public.
Australia’s fuel security policy is inadequate to protect our economy, defence, social and community wellbeing in a period of fuel delivery disruption. Key metrics indicate that Australia’s continued access to transport energy supplies that are secure, affordable and sustainable cannot be taken for granted.
We call on the Government to review the risks and implications of current industry trends on the security and diversity of Australia’s fuel mix, economic productivity and environmental outcomes. The Transport Energy Plan should include a clear commitment from the Government that a secure, affordable and sustainable transport energy supply is fundamental to Australia’s safety and prosperity.
The Plan should also review policies end-to-end along the supply chain, from the source to the end customer. A stable and clear policy environment is critical to stimulating private sector investment in long-term infrastructure, with multiple public benefits.
True transport energy resilience will be achieved when Australia can sustain an adequate flow of transport energy to meet critical demand under adverse conditions. Australia has options to improve the efficiency of transport fuel use and to produce a proportion of its own transport fuels. Some examples include natural gas, LPG, biofuels and electrical energy. Domestic production from these alternative sources would not only increase the nation’s energy resilience but also improve our terms of trade and create thousands of jobs.
This is a significant policy challenge, but one that is vital to secure the safety and well-being of all Australians.
For photos of the MP's that supported us click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/muaaustralia/sets/72157649208442647/
