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Urgent Action Needed to protect Australian shipping
New figures exposing the impact of the Howard Government's neglect of
the Australian shipping industry highlights the importance of
tightening rules for foreign vessels, the Maritime Union of Australia
said today.
A government report released today shows the number of Australian
vessels servicing the coast fell in 2006/07 below 100 for the first
time. The report also shows that the number of voyages by foreign
flagged ships carrying Australian coastal cargo jumped by 56.4% in just
one year between 2005-06 and 2006-07.
MUA National Secretary Paddy Crumlin said the figures showed that the
Howard Government had left Australian shipping facing possible
extinction.
"In this context, the MUA welcomes the Rudd Government's announcement
today that it will tighten the Guidelines on approving foreign vessels
access to Australian coastal cargo.
Transport Minister Anthony Albanese today announced changes to
Ministerial Guidelines, which will help close loopholes around the
Single Voyage Permit (SVP) system, under which foreign ships apply to
carry cargo between Australian ports.
The new Guidelines will enable stakeholders to be on the lookout for
abuses which deny Australian licensed ships the right to carry
Australian coastal cargo, such as:
- late applications for permits,
- patterns of applications suggesting exporters and foreign ship
operators are colluding on the timing of permit applications,
- overstating the size of cargo requirements, and unreasonable
conditions (such as the lowest international freight rate).
"The changes will help close the many loopholes that have turned the
SVP system into a rubber stamp process, carried on behind closed
doors."
Mr Crumlin said that while there was a place for foreign flagged
vessels in carrying domestic cargo at peak times, the system had been
abused to the point where foreign vessels were taking over domestic
routes.
"There are a number of reasons a strong Australian shipping industry is
in the national interest - lower freight rates for long haul domestic
shippers, Australian seafarers have world best security clearances, are
multi-skilled and are the best trained.
"And at a time when the challenges of climate change are forcing us to
rethink the way we transport goods, a low-emission shipping industry is
good for the nation.
These figures further highlight the need for strong recommendations
from the Government's Shipping Inquiry, which is due to report in
October.
MUA media release.
26 June 2008
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