Economy
‘Crew must not be locked on board of fumigation ship’
The Tasmanian Greens today demanded that the Labor government intervene and ensure that the crew of the whole log transport ship, ID Black Sea, are removed from the vessel for the duration of the methyl bromide fumigation process, saying that to do otherwise is unacceptable treatment of workers.
Greens Member for Braddon, Paul ‘Basil’ O’Halloran MP, said that it would send a very negative message nationally and internationally should foreign workers be exposed potentially to a process which was considered t0 present an unacceptable risk to Tasmanians.
“The very reason the methyl bromide fumigation of these logs was moved offshore was in recognition of the health risks posed to the Burnie community, so it is utterly wrong and unacceptable to lock the ship’s crew on board and expose them to the very same health risks,” Mr O’Halloran said.
“I received an informal undertaking from the Forests Minister last week that the crew would be removed from the vessel for the duration of the fumigation process, and I am now calling on Minister Green to stand by that commitment, intervene and ensure that the workers are relocated to shore.”
“As a previous Union representative, Bryan Green must surely be appalled at the suggestion that a health hazard to which it is not considered safe to expose Tasmanians is alright to expose foreign workers.”
“How on earth can such unacceptable treatment of human beings be considered OK in the 21st century? To allow this treatment of the ID Black Sea crew is un-Tasmanian and un-Australian.”
Sunday …
Minister Must Ensure Workers Are Onshore
Paul O’Halloran MP
Greens Member for Braddon
Sunday, 11 July 2010
The Tasmanian Greens today increased the pressure on the Labor government, saying that Forestry Minister Bryan Green must deliver on his commitment that the crew of the whole log transport ship, ID Black Sea, are removed from the vessel for the duration of the methyl bromide fumigation process.
Greens Member for Braddon, Paul ‘Basil’ O’Halloran MP, said that given it has been recognised that the potential health risks are unacceptable for the Burnie community, it is unconscionable for any other person to be forced to remain within the vicinity of the fumigation process.
Mr O’Halloran also said that all these difficulties surrounding the fumigation process highlights why alternative methods to meet quarantine requirements must be prioritised, as Minister Green’s announcement late last week that this is the last shipment to be treated this way while alternatives are investigated acknowledges.
“The Greens will continue to demand that the ID Black Sea crew are removed from the ship for the duration of this potentially poisonous fumigation process, as the silence coming from Labor over removing the crew speaks volumes,” Mr O’Halloran said.
“The methyl bromide fumigation of these logs was moved offshore in recognition of the health risks posed to the Burnie community, so it is unconscionable to lock the ship’s crew on board and expose them to the very same health risks.”
“It beggars belief that given the public outcry over the threats posed by this process that any person is going to be forced to stay onboard.”
“It also beggars belief that it is a Labor government happy to turn a blind eye to workers being treated in this manner.”
“As a previous Union representative, Bryan Green must surely be appalled at the suggestion that a health hazard to which it is not considered safe to expose Tasmanians is alright to expose foreign workers, and I expect that he will stand by the commitment he gave me last week that all crew will be removed, and intervene to ensure that all crew are relocated to shore,” Mr O’Halloran said.