Maritime unions take Govt. to court

Date: 01 June 2000

Minister alleged in breach of Navigation Act

The Federal Court will, today, hear the maritime unions case against Deputy PM and Transport Minister John Anderson. The Maritime Union of Australia, Australian Maritime Officers' Union and Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers are alleging that the government policy of permitting foreign ships to carry Australian domestic cargo at the expense of Australian ships is in breach of the Navigation Act.

At the centre of the court action is the recent decision by the Department of Transport to award single voyage permits to Western Bulk Carriers. As a result CSL Australia bulk carrier River Torrens has been put out of business.

Under the Australian Navigation Act, domestic cargo is restricted to Australian flagged and crewed vessels where possible. But Australian ship owners have complained directly to the Minister for Transport John Anderson, that the government is encouraging shippers and cargo forwarders to manipulate the system in order to get cheap cargo rates from foreign, tax exempt, ships crewed by Third World labour. They do this by waiting for Australian ships to sail before demanding urgent carriage of cargo or by claiming the Australian ships are not suitable.

Union lawyers Maurice Blackburn will be arguing against the department issuing further single voyage permits to Western Bulk Carriers before Justice Susan Kenny in the Federal Court, Melbourne at 10am, Thursday, June 1. The unions have also subpoenaed CSL Australia executives David King and Michael Beck. Representatives of all three maritime unions will also attend the hearing, including MUA National Secretary John Coombs, and Deputy National Secretary Paddy Crumlin.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport John Anderson, Western Mining and Western Bulk Carriers are named as respondents. Representing the unions are Maurice Blackburn solicitor Anne Gooley, Will Houghton, QC, an expert in administration lawand barrister Sam Horgan, who specialises in maritime law.

Contact: MUA National Secretary John Coombs, mobile: 0418 379 660
Anne Gooley, Maurice Blackburn, tel: 03 9345 2832 mobile: 0412 079 862

For further information

Contact:	Zoe Reynolds
Union:	Maritime Union of Australia
Phone:	0417 229873
WWW:	http://mua.tcp.net.au/

LaborNET is proudly created, designed and programmed
by Social Change Online for the Labor Council of NSW
[Credits] [Site Matters]