❓ Minister MacTiernan accuses the federal government of undermining the Australian coastal shipping industry through increased single-voyage permits, negatively impacting regional WA and investments in coastal shipping services.
AnsweredQoN 469Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Can the minister advise the House of the latest example of the federal Government’s undermining of the Australian shipping industry and the impact this has on regional Western Australia and the Government’s investment in the coastal shipping service? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for this question. I know that she as the member for Kimberley has a very deep interest in the future of coastal shipping. It is very important for the people of the Kimberley and for the growth of the Kimberley that we have a vibrant coastal shipping industry. It is true that the federal Government is systematically undermining our system of coastal shipping. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: The National Party does not like to hear this as it is a National Party dream to destroy the Australian shipping industry. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: It is, and it is working very hard to bring that to reality. The federal Minister for Transport and Regional Services is dedicated to the destruction of the Australian shipping industry. He wants to destroy the Maritime Union of Australia, and if the Australian shipping industry is destroyed along with it, so be it. The principle of cabotage is enshrined in the law of this country. According to that principle, Australian coastal trade should be reserved for Australian vessels. It is not some radical left-wing principle; it is also entrenched in the laws of the United States and most of the coastal shipping nations of Europe. Since the current federal Government has been in power, the number of single-voyage permits that have been granted has increased by 52 per cent, and the volume of trade subject to these permits has increased from three million tonnes to over 10 million tonnes, an increase of over 300 per cent. In just six years the federal Government has comprehensively undermined the shipping industry in Australia. What is even more alarming is the subterfuge that the federal Government is prepared to condone to justify this. We recently had an example of the sort of fabrication of circumstances that is taking place. A company applied for a single-voyage permit for a trip from Darwin to Dampier. It contacted the federal Department of Transport and Regional Services on the morning of the day the vessel was due to sail and said that it wanted a single-voyage permit for that evening. The freight load was worth in the order of $30 000. In order for that ship to be in the port of Darwin, the trip would have had to have been planned at least four to six weeks earlier; yet, the company rang on the morning of sailing and asked whether any Australian ships were available. An Australian ship, the MV Kimberley , was due five days later. The taxpayers of this State subsidise that ship to ensure a coastal shipping service. However, the federal department decided that the ship was due after the maximum period of three days that such loads should wait, and it granted the company a single-voyage permit. That set of circumstances was contrived to undermine Australian shipping and ensure that these vessels, the owners of which do not pay decent wages to their staff and quite often maintain questionable environmental standards, can sail in our waters. We object very strongly to this. We not only are subsidising one ship but also want to build coastal shipping. We are working with Patrick The Australian Stevedore to develop a business plan for a second ship to ply the waters of the north west and the Kimberley, but we cannot do this in the face of the actions of the federal Government to undermine Australian shipping.
Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN replied: I thank the member for this question. I know that she as the member for Kimberley has a very deep interest in the future of coastal shipping. It is very important for the people of the Kimberley and for the growth of the Kimberley that we have a vibrant coastal shipping industry. It is true that the federal Government is systematically undermining our system of coastal shipping. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: The National Party does not like to hear this as it is a National Party dream to destroy the Australian shipping industry. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: It is, and it is working very hard to bring that to reality. The federal Minister for Transport and Regional Services is dedicated to the destruction of the Australian shipping industry. He wants to destroy the Maritime Union of Australia, and if the Australian shipping industry is destroyed along with it, so be it. The principle of cabotage is enshrined in the law of this country. According to that principle, Australian coastal trade should be reserved for Australian vessels. It is not some radical left-wing principle; it is also entrenched in the laws of the United States and most of the coastal shipping nations of Europe. Since the current federal Government has been in power, the number of single-voyage permits that have been granted has increased by 52 per cent, and the volume of trade subject to these permits has increased from three million tonnes to over 10 million tonnes, an increase of over 300 per cent. In just six years the federal Government has comprehensively undermined the shipping industry in Australia. What is even more alarming is the subterfuge that the federal Government is prepared to condone to justify this. We recently had an example of the sort of fabrication of circumstances that is taking place. A company applied for a single-voyage permit for a trip from Darwin to Dampier. It contacted the federal Department of Transport and Regional Services on the morning of the day the vessel was due to sail and said that it wanted a single-voyage permit for that evening. The freight load was worth in the order of $30 000. In order for that ship to be in the port of Darwin, the trip would have had to have been planned at least four to six weeks earlier; yet, the company rang on the morning of sailing and asked whether any Australian ships were available. An Australian ship, the MV Kimberley , was due five days later. The taxpayers of this State subsidise that ship to ensure a coastal shipping service. However, the federal department decided that the ship was due after the maximum period of three days that such loads should wait, and it granted the company a single-voyage permit. That set of circumstances was contrived to undermine Australian shipping and ensure that these vessels, the owners of which do not pay decent wages to their staff and quite often maintain questionable environmental standards, can sail in our waters. We object very strongly to this. We not only are subsidising one ship but also want to build coastal shipping. We are working with Patrick The Australian Stevedore to develop a business plan for a second ship to ply the waters of the north west and the Kimberley, but we cannot do this in the face of the actions of the federal Government to undermine Australian shipping.
I thank the member for this question. I know that she as the member for Kimberley has a very deep interest in the future of coastal shipping. It is very important for the people of the Kimberley and for the growth of the Kimberley that we have a vibrant coastal shipping industry. It is true that the federal Government is systematically undermining our system of coastal shipping. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: The National Party does not like to hear this as it is a National Party dream to destroy the Australian shipping industry. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: It is, and it is working very hard to bring that to reality. The federal Minister for Transport and Regional Services is dedicated to the destruction of the Australian shipping industry. He wants to destroy the Maritime Union of Australia, and if the Australian shipping industry is destroyed along with it, so be it. The principle of cabotage is enshrined in the law of this country. According to that principle, Australian coastal trade should be reserved for Australian vessels. It is not some radical left-wing principle; it is also entrenched in the laws of the United States and most of the coastal shipping nations of Europe. Since the current federal Government has been in power, the number of single-voyage permits that have been granted has increased by 52 per cent, and the volume of trade subject to these permits has increased from three million tonnes to over 10 million tonnes, an increase of over 300 per cent. In just six years the federal Government has comprehensively undermined the shipping industry in Australia. What is even more alarming is the subterfuge that the federal Government is prepared to condone to justify this. We recently had an example of the sort of fabrication of circumstances that is taking place. A company applied for a single-voyage permit for a trip from Darwin to Dampier. It contacted the federal Department of Transport and Regional Services on the morning of the day the vessel was due to sail and said that it wanted a single-voyage permit for that evening. The freight load was worth in the order of $30 000. In order for that ship to be in the port of Darwin, the trip would have had to have been planned at least four to six weeks earlier; yet, the company rang on the morning of sailing and asked whether any Australian ships were available. An Australian ship, the MV Kimberley , was due five days later. The taxpayers of this State subsidise that ship to ensure a coastal shipping service. However, the federal department decided that the ship was due after the maximum period of three days that such loads should wait, and it granted the company a single-voyage permit. That set of circumstances was contrived to undermine Australian shipping and ensure that these vessels, the owners of which do not pay decent wages to their staff and quite often maintain questionable environmental standards, can sail in our waters. We object very strongly to this. We not only are subsidising one ship but also want to build coastal shipping. We are working with Patrick The Australian Stevedore to develop a business plan for a second ship to ply the waters of the north west and the Kimberley, but we cannot do this in the face of the actions of the federal Government to undermine Australian shipping.
Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: The National Party does not like to hear this as it is a National Party dream to destroy the Australian shipping industry. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: It is, and it is working very hard to bring that to reality. The federal Minister for Transport and Regional Services is dedicated to the destruction of the Australian shipping industry. He wants to destroy the Maritime Union of Australia, and if the Australian shipping industry is destroyed along with it, so be it. The principle of cabotage is enshrined in the law of this country. According to that principle, Australian coastal trade should be reserved for Australian vessels. It is not some radical left-wing principle; it is also entrenched in the laws of the United States and most of the coastal shipping nations of Europe. Since the current federal Government has been in power, the number of single-voyage permits that have been granted has increased by 52 per cent, and the volume of trade subject to these permits has increased from three million tonnes to over 10 million tonnes, an increase of over 300 per cent. In just six years the federal Government has comprehensively undermined the shipping industry in Australia. What is even more alarming is the subterfuge that the federal Government is prepared to condone to justify this. We recently had an example of the sort of fabrication of circumstances that is taking place. A company applied for a single-voyage permit for a trip from Darwin to Dampier. It contacted the federal Department of Transport and Regional Services on the morning of the day the vessel was due to sail and said that it wanted a single-voyage permit for that evening. The freight load was worth in the order of $30 000. In order for that ship to be in the port of Darwin, the trip would have had to have been planned at least four to six weeks earlier; yet, the company rang on the morning of sailing and asked whether any Australian ships were available. An Australian ship, the MV Kimberley , was due five days later. The taxpayers of this State subsidise that ship to ensure a coastal shipping service. However, the federal department decided that the ship was due after the maximum period of three days that such loads should wait, and it granted the company a single-voyage permit. That set of circumstances was contrived to undermine Australian shipping and ensure that these vessels, the owners of which do not pay decent wages to their staff and quite often maintain questionable environmental standards, can sail in our waters. We object very strongly to this. We not only are subsidising one ship but also want to build coastal shipping. We are working with Patrick The Australian Stevedore to develop a business plan for a second ship to ply the waters of the north west and the Kimberley, but we cannot do this in the face of the actions of the federal Government to undermine Australian shipping.
Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: The National Party does not like to hear this as it is a National Party dream to destroy the Australian shipping industry. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: It is, and it is working very hard to bring that to reality. The federal Minister for Transport and Regional Services is dedicated to the destruction of the Australian shipping industry. He wants to destroy the Maritime Union of Australia, and if the Australian shipping industry is destroyed along with it, so be it. The principle of cabotage is enshrined in the law of this country. According to that principle, Australian coastal trade should be reserved for Australian vessels. It is not some radical left-wing principle; it is also entrenched in the laws of the United States and most of the coastal shipping nations of Europe. Since the current federal Government has been in power, the number of single-voyage permits that have been granted has increased by 52 per cent, and the volume of trade subject to these permits has increased from three million tonnes to over 10 million tonnes, an increase of over 300 per cent. In just six years the federal Government has comprehensively undermined the shipping industry in Australia. What is even more alarming is the subterfuge that the federal Government is prepared to condone to justify this. We recently had an example of the sort of fabrication of circumstances that is taking place. A company applied for a single-voyage permit for a trip from Darwin to Dampier. It contacted the federal Department of Transport and Regional Services on the morning of the day the vessel was due to sail and said that it wanted a single-voyage permit for that evening. The freight load was worth in the order of $30 000. In order for that ship to be in the port of Darwin, the trip would have had to have been planned at least four to six weeks earlier; yet, the company rang on the morning of sailing and asked whether any Australian ships were available. An Australian ship, the MV Kimberley , was due five days later. The taxpayers of this State subsidise that ship to ensure a coastal shipping service. However, the federal department decided that the ship was due after the maximum period of three days that such loads should wait, and it granted the company a single-voyage permit. That set of circumstances was contrived to undermine Australian shipping and ensure that these vessels, the owners of which do not pay decent wages to their staff and quite often maintain questionable environmental standards, can sail in our waters. We object very strongly to this. We not only are subsidising one ship but also want to build coastal shipping. We are working with Patrick The Australian Stevedore to develop a business plan for a second ship to ply the waters of the north west and the Kimberley, but we cannot do this in the face of the actions of the federal Government to undermine Australian shipping.
Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: It is, and it is working very hard to bring that to reality. The federal Minister for Transport and Regional Services is dedicated to the destruction of the Australian shipping industry. He wants to destroy the Maritime Union of Australia, and if the Australian shipping industry is destroyed along with it, so be it. The principle of cabotage is enshrined in the law of this country. According to that principle, Australian coastal trade should be reserved for Australian vessels. It is not some radical left-wing principle; it is also entrenched in the laws of the United States and most of the coastal shipping nations of Europe. Since the current federal Government has been in power, the number of single-voyage permits that have been granted has increased by 52 per cent, and the volume of trade subject to these permits has increased from three million tonnes to over 10 million tonnes, an increase of over 300 per cent. In just six years the federal Government has comprehensively undermined the shipping industry in Australia. What is even more alarming is the subterfuge that the federal Government is prepared to condone to justify this. We recently had an example of the sort of fabrication of circumstances that is taking place. A company applied for a single-voyage permit for a trip from Darwin to Dampier. It contacted the federal Department of Transport and Regional Services on the morning of the day the vessel was due to sail and said that it wanted a single-voyage permit for that evening. The freight load was worth in the order of $30 000. In order for that ship to be in the port of Darwin, the trip would have had to have been planned at least four to six weeks earlier; yet, the company rang on the morning of sailing and asked whether any Australian ships were available. An Australian ship, the MV Kimberley , was due five days later. The taxpayers of this State subsidise that ship to ensure a coastal shipping service. However, the federal department decided that the ship was due after the maximum period of three days that such loads should wait, and it granted the company a single-voyage permit. That set of circumstances was contrived to undermine Australian shipping and ensure that these vessels, the owners of which do not pay decent wages to their staff and quite often maintain questionable environmental standards, can sail in our waters. We object very strongly to this. We not only are subsidising one ship but also want to build coastal shipping. We are working with Patrick The Australian Stevedore to develop a business plan for a second ship to ply the waters of the north west and the Kimberley, but we cannot do this in the face of the actions of the federal Government to undermine Australian shipping.
Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: It is, and it is working very hard to bring that to reality. The federal Minister for Transport and Regional Services is dedicated to the destruction of the Australian shipping industry. He wants to destroy the Maritime Union of Australia, and if the Australian shipping industry is destroyed along with it, so be it. The principle of cabotage is enshrined in the law of this country. According to that principle, Australian coastal trade should be reserved for Australian vessels. It is not some radical left-wing principle; it is also entrenched in the laws of the United States and most of the coastal shipping nations of Europe. Since the current federal Government has been in power, the number of single-voyage permits that have been granted has increased by 52 per cent, and the volume of trade subject to these permits has increased from three million tonnes to over 10 million tonnes, an increase of over 300 per cent. In just six years the federal Government has comprehensively undermined the shipping industry in Australia. What is even more alarming is the subterfuge that the federal Government is prepared to condone to justify this. We recently had an example of the sort of fabrication of circumstances that is taking place. A company applied for a single-voyage permit for a trip from Darwin to Dampier. It contacted the federal Department of Transport and Regional Services on the morning of the day the vessel was due to sail and said that it wanted a single-voyage permit for that evening. The freight load was worth in the order of $30 000. In order for that ship to be in the port of Darwin, the trip would have had to have been planned at least four to six weeks earlier; yet, the company rang on the morning of sailing and asked whether any Australian ships were available. An Australian ship, the MV Kimberley , was due five days later. The taxpayers of this State subsidise that ship to ensure a coastal shipping service. However, the federal department decided that the ship was due after the maximum period of three days that such loads should wait, and it granted the company a single-voyage permit. That set of circumstances was contrived to undermine Australian shipping and ensure that these vessels, the owners of which do not pay decent wages to their staff and quite often maintain questionable environmental standards, can sail in our waters. We object very strongly to this. We not only are subsidising one ship but also want to build coastal shipping. We are working with Patrick The Australian Stevedore to develop a business plan for a second ship to ply the waters of the north west and the Kimberley, but we cannot do this in the face of the actions of the federal Government to undermine Australian shipping.
Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN replied: I thank the member for this question. I know that she as the member for Kimberley has a very deep interest in the future of coastal shipping. It is very important for the people of the Kimberley and for the growth of the Kimberley that we have a vibrant coastal shipping industry. It is true that the federal Government is systematically undermining our system of coastal shipping. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: The National Party does not like to hear this as it is a National Party dream to destroy the Australian shipping industry. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: It is, and it is working very hard to bring that to reality. The federal Minister for Transport and Regional Services is dedicated to the destruction of the Australian shipping industry. He wants to destroy the Maritime Union of Australia, and if the Australian shipping industry is destroyed along with it, so be it. The principle of cabotage is enshrined in the law of this country. According to that principle, Australian coastal trade should be reserved for Australian vessels. It is not some radical left-wing principle; it is also entrenched in the laws of the United States and most of the coastal shipping nations of Europe. Since the current federal Government has been in power, the number of single-voyage permits that have been granted has increased by 52 per cent, and the volume of trade subject to these permits has increased from three million tonnes to over 10 million tonnes, an increase of over 300 per cent. In just six years the federal Government has comprehensively undermined the shipping industry in Australia. What is even more alarming is the subterfuge that the federal Government is prepared to condone to justify this. We recently had an example of the sort of fabrication of circumstances that is taking place. A company applied for a single-voyage permit for a trip from Darwin to Dampier. It contacted the federal Department of Transport and Regional Services on the morning of the day the vessel was due to sail and said that it wanted a single-voyage permit for that evening. The freight load was worth in the order of $30 000. In order for that ship to be in the port of Darwin, the trip would have had to have been planned at least four to six weeks earlier; yet, the company rang on the morning of sailing and asked whether any Australian ships were available. An Australian ship, the MV Kimberley , was due five days later. The taxpayers of this State subsidise that ship to ensure a coastal shipping service. However, the federal department decided that the ship was due after the maximum period of three days that such loads should wait, and it granted the company a single-voyage permit. That set of circumstances was contrived to undermine Australian shipping and ensure that these vessels, the owners of which do not pay decent wages to their staff and quite often maintain questionable environmental standards, can sail in our waters. We object very strongly to this. We not only are subsidising one ship but also want to build coastal shipping. We are working with Patrick The Australian Stevedore to develop a business plan for a second ship to ply the waters of the north west and the Kimberley, but we cannot do this in the face of the actions of the federal Government to undermine Australian shipping.
I thank the member for this question. I know that she as the member for Kimberley has a very deep interest in the future of coastal shipping. It is very important for the people of the Kimberley and for the growth of the Kimberley that we have a vibrant coastal shipping industry. It is true that the federal Government is systematically undermining our system of coastal shipping. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: The National Party does not like to hear this as it is a National Party dream to destroy the Australian shipping industry. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: It is, and it is working very hard to bring that to reality. The federal Minister for Transport and Regional Services is dedicated to the destruction of the Australian shipping industry. He wants to destroy the Maritime Union of Australia, and if the Australian shipping industry is destroyed along with it, so be it. The principle of cabotage is enshrined in the law of this country. According to that principle, Australian coastal trade should be reserved for Australian vessels. It is not some radical left-wing principle; it is also entrenched in the laws of the United States and most of the coastal shipping nations of Europe. Since the current federal Government has been in power, the number of single-voyage permits that have been granted has increased by 52 per cent, and the volume of trade subject to these permits has increased from three million tonnes to over 10 million tonnes, an increase of over 300 per cent. In just six years the federal Government has comprehensively undermined the shipping industry in Australia. What is even more alarming is the subterfuge that the federal Government is prepared to condone to justify this. We recently had an example of the sort of fabrication of circumstances that is taking place. A company applied for a single-voyage permit for a trip from Darwin to Dampier. It contacted the federal Department of Transport and Regional Services on the morning of the day the vessel was due to sail and said that it wanted a single-voyage permit for that evening. The freight load was worth in the order of $30 000. In order for that ship to be in the port of Darwin, the trip would have had to have been planned at least four to six weeks earlier; yet, the company rang on the morning of sailing and asked whether any Australian ships were available. An Australian ship, the MV Kimberley , was due five days later. The taxpayers of this State subsidise that ship to ensure a coastal shipping service. However, the federal department decided that the ship was due after the maximum period of three days that such loads should wait, and it granted the company a single-voyage permit. That set of circumstances was contrived to undermine Australian shipping and ensure that these vessels, the owners of which do not pay decent wages to their staff and quite often maintain questionable environmental standards, can sail in our waters. We object very strongly to this. We not only are subsidising one ship but also want to build coastal shipping. We are working with Patrick The Australian Stevedore to develop a business plan for a second ship to ply the waters of the north west and the Kimberley, but we cannot do this in the face of the actions of the federal Government to undermine Australian shipping.
Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: The National Party does not like to hear this as it is a National Party dream to destroy the Australian shipping industry. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: It is, and it is working very hard to bring that to reality. The federal Minister for Transport and Regional Services is dedicated to the destruction of the Australian shipping industry. He wants to destroy the Maritime Union of Australia, and if the Australian shipping industry is destroyed along with it, so be it. The principle of cabotage is enshrined in the law of this country. According to that principle, Australian coastal trade should be reserved for Australian vessels. It is not some radical left-wing principle; it is also entrenched in the laws of the United States and most of the coastal shipping nations of Europe. Since the current federal Government has been in power, the number of single-voyage permits that have been granted has increased by 52 per cent, and the volume of trade subject to these permits has increased from three million tonnes to over 10 million tonnes, an increase of over 300 per cent. In just six years the federal Government has comprehensively undermined the shipping industry in Australia. What is even more alarming is the subterfuge that the federal Government is prepared to condone to justify this. We recently had an example of the sort of fabrication of circumstances that is taking place. A company applied for a single-voyage permit for a trip from Darwin to Dampier. It contacted the federal Department of Transport and Regional Services on the morning of the day the vessel was due to sail and said that it wanted a single-voyage permit for that evening. The freight load was worth in the order of $30 000. In order for that ship to be in the port of Darwin, the trip would have had to have been planned at least four to six weeks earlier; yet, the company rang on the morning of sailing and asked whether any Australian ships were available. An Australian ship, the MV Kimberley , was due five days later. The taxpayers of this State subsidise that ship to ensure a coastal shipping service. However, the federal department decided that the ship was due after the maximum period of three days that such loads should wait, and it granted the company a single-voyage permit. That set of circumstances was contrived to undermine Australian shipping and ensure that these vessels, the owners of which do not pay decent wages to their staff and quite often maintain questionable environmental standards, can sail in our waters. We object very strongly to this. We not only are subsidising one ship but also want to build coastal shipping. We are working with Patrick The Australian Stevedore to develop a business plan for a second ship to ply the waters of the north west and the Kimberley, but we cannot do this in the face of the actions of the federal Government to undermine Australian shipping.
Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: The National Party does not like to hear this as it is a National Party dream to destroy the Australian shipping industry. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: It is, and it is working very hard to bring that to reality. The federal Minister for Transport and Regional Services is dedicated to the destruction of the Australian shipping industry. He wants to destroy the Maritime Union of Australia, and if the Australian shipping industry is destroyed along with it, so be it. The principle of cabotage is enshrined in the law of this country. According to that principle, Australian coastal trade should be reserved for Australian vessels. It is not some radical left-wing principle; it is also entrenched in the laws of the United States and most of the coastal shipping nations of Europe. Since the current federal Government has been in power, the number of single-voyage permits that have been granted has increased by 52 per cent, and the volume of trade subject to these permits has increased from three million tonnes to over 10 million tonnes, an increase of over 300 per cent. In just six years the federal Government has comprehensively undermined the shipping industry in Australia. What is even more alarming is the subterfuge that the federal Government is prepared to condone to justify this. We recently had an example of the sort of fabrication of circumstances that is taking place. A company applied for a single-voyage permit for a trip from Darwin to Dampier. It contacted the federal Department of Transport and Regional Services on the morning of the day the vessel was due to sail and said that it wanted a single-voyage permit for that evening. The freight load was worth in the order of $30 000. In order for that ship to be in the port of Darwin, the trip would have had to have been planned at least four to six weeks earlier; yet, the company rang on the morning of sailing and asked whether any Australian ships were available. An Australian ship, the MV Kimberley , was due five days later. The taxpayers of this State subsidise that ship to ensure a coastal shipping service. However, the federal department decided that the ship was due after the maximum period of three days that such loads should wait, and it granted the company a single-voyage permit. That set of circumstances was contrived to undermine Australian shipping and ensure that these vessels, the owners of which do not pay decent wages to their staff and quite often maintain questionable environmental standards, can sail in our waters. We object very strongly to this. We not only are subsidising one ship but also want to build coastal shipping. We are working with Patrick The Australian Stevedore to develop a business plan for a second ship to ply the waters of the north west and the Kimberley, but we cannot do this in the face of the actions of the federal Government to undermine Australian shipping.
Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: It is, and it is working very hard to bring that to reality. The federal Minister for Transport and Regional Services is dedicated to the destruction of the Australian shipping industry. He wants to destroy the Maritime Union of Australia, and if the Australian shipping industry is destroyed along with it, so be it. The principle of cabotage is enshrined in the law of this country. According to that principle, Australian coastal trade should be reserved for Australian vessels. It is not some radical left-wing principle; it is also entrenched in the laws of the United States and most of the coastal shipping nations of Europe. Since the current federal Government has been in power, the number of single-voyage permits that have been granted has increased by 52 per cent, and the volume of trade subject to these permits has increased from three million tonnes to over 10 million tonnes, an increase of over 300 per cent. In just six years the federal Government has comprehensively undermined the shipping industry in Australia. What is even more alarming is the subterfuge that the federal Government is prepared to condone to justify this. We recently had an example of the sort of fabrication of circumstances that is taking place. A company applied for a single-voyage permit for a trip from Darwin to Dampier. It contacted the federal Department of Transport and Regional Services on the morning of the day the vessel was due to sail and said that it wanted a single-voyage permit for that evening. The freight load was worth in the order of $30 000. In order for that ship to be in the port of Darwin, the trip would have had to have been planned at least four to six weeks earlier; yet, the company rang on the morning of sailing and asked whether any Australian ships were available. An Australian ship, the MV Kimberley , was due five days later. The taxpayers of this State subsidise that ship to ensure a coastal shipping service. However, the federal department decided that the ship was due after the maximum period of three days that such loads should wait, and it granted the company a single-voyage permit. That set of circumstances was contrived to undermine Australian shipping and ensure that these vessels, the owners of which do not pay decent wages to their staff and quite often maintain questionable environmental standards, can sail in our waters. We object very strongly to this. We not only are subsidising one ship but also want to build coastal shipping. We are working with Patrick The Australian Stevedore to develop a business plan for a second ship to ply the waters of the north west and the Kimberley, but we cannot do this in the face of the actions of the federal Government to undermine Australian shipping.
Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: It is, and it is working very hard to bring that to reality. The federal Minister for Transport and Regional Services is dedicated to the destruction of the Australian shipping industry. He wants to destroy the Maritime Union of Australia, and if the Australian shipping industry is destroyed along with it, so be it. The principle of cabotage is enshrined in the law of this country. According to that principle, Australian coastal trade should be reserved for Australian vessels. It is not some radical left-wing principle; it is also entrenched in the laws of the United States and most of the coastal shipping nations of Europe. Since the current federal Government has been in power, the number of single-voyage permits that have been granted has increased by 52 per cent, and the volume of trade subject to these permits has increased from three million tonnes to over 10 million tonnes, an increase of over 300 per cent. In just six years the federal Government has comprehensively undermined the shipping industry in Australia. What is even more alarming is the subterfuge that the federal Government is prepared to condone to justify this. We recently had an example of the sort of fabrication of circumstances that is taking place. A company applied for a single-voyage permit for a trip from Darwin to Dampier. It contacted the federal Department of Transport and Regional Services on the morning of the day the vessel was due to sail and said that it wanted a single-voyage permit for that evening. The freight load was worth in the order of $30 000. In order for that ship to be in the port of Darwin, the trip would have had to have been planned at least four to six weeks earlier; yet, the company rang on the morning of sailing and asked whether any Australian ships were available. An Australian ship, the MV Kimberley , was due five days later. The taxpayers of this State subsidise that ship to ensure a coastal shipping service. However, the federal department decided that the ship was due after the maximum period of three days that such loads should wait, and it granted the company a single-voyage permit. That set of circumstances was contrived to undermine Australian shipping and ensure that these vessels, the owners of which do not pay decent wages to their staff and quite often maintain questionable environmental standards, can sail in our waters. We object very strongly to this. We not only are subsidising one ship but also want to build coastal shipping. We are working with Patrick The Australian Stevedore to develop a business plan for a second ship to ply the waters of the north west and the Kimberley, but we cannot do this in the face of the actions of the federal Government to undermine Australian shipping.
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