Shipping Laws Would Destroy Far More Jobs Than New Port Would Create

New port infrastructure must not come at the expense of Australian jobs in the shipping industry, Greens Senator for Tasmania Nick McKim says.

“DP World Australia’s promise to build a new facility at Burnie only if maritime workplace laws are destroyed is corporate blackmail,” Senator McKim said.

“The fact is the coastal shipping amendments would destroy 25 times more jobs that this proposal would create.

“The Government’s own modelling shows that the shipping industry stands to lose 1000 jobs from the changes, compared to the 40 jobs that might emerge at Burnie.

“The ships that would operate out of this new facility would not be Australian flagged or Australian crewed.

“We would not accept truck drivers on the Bass Highway being paid $2 an hour in trucks not registered in Australia, and we should not expect any different for the crew on ships travelling between Australian ports.

“These changes would be a hammer blow to Bass Strait freight jobs, and the Greens will continue to fight them in Parliament.

“Brett Whiteley and his Liberal colleagues might be happy to sell out Australian jobs, but we will not.”
Greens Senator for Tasmania Nick McKim