BASS Liberal MHR Andrew Nikolic has lashed out at fears that hundreds of local jobs will be lost if the federal government’s proposed deregulation of coastal shipping goes ahead. Modelling by the Australian Maritime Union shows 382 workers employed on freight and ferry vessels servicing Bass Strait could lose their jobs if the laws are passed. The maritime union told a Senate committee investigating the legislative changes that about 230 of the jobs would be shed in Tasmania. The proposed deregulation measures would allow foreign-flagged ships to spend more time in Australian waters. The union fears local workers will be replaced with foreign seafarers as a consequence, who would be able to enter and work in Australia indefinitely without needing work visas. Mr Nikolic rejected their calculations, instead arguing the former Labor government’s changes to shipping laws had driven a wrecking ball through the industry and cost seafaring jobs. He said the fleet of major Australian registered ships plummeted since Labor’s amendments were introduced in 2013, with shipping’s share of Australia’s freight also declining sharply. Mr Nikolic said freight quantity was expected to grow by 80 per cent over the next two decades, and shipping laws needed to be updated to keep up with demand. ‘‘Domestic freight is growing exponentially and shipping must carry a much larger share of the load,’’ he said. ‘‘The bill also has built-in protections for Australian workers in the industry and also for wages and conditions for all seafarers on foreign ships operating primarily in the Australian coastal trade.’’ Tasmanian Greens Senator Nick McKim wants the legislation dumped. ‘‘These [maritime union] figures are confirmation of the disastrous effect that the Liberals’ coastal shipping laws will have on Tasmanian jobs,’’ he said. The Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee is due to report back on the shipping bill by October 12.
Bass Liberal MHR Andrew Nikolic has lashed out at fears that hundreds of local jobs will be lost if the federal government’s proposed deregulation of coastal shipping goes ahead.
BASS Liberal MHR Andrew Nikolic has lashed out at fears that hundreds of local jobs will be lost if the federal government’s proposed deregulation of coastal shipping goes ahead.
Modelling by the Australian Maritime Union shows 382 workers employed on freight and ferry vessels servicing Bass Strait could lose their jobs if the laws are passed.
The maritime union told a Senate committee investigating the legislative changes that about 230 of the jobs would be shed in Tasmania.
The proposed deregulation measures would allow foreign-flagged ships to spend more time in Australian waters.
The union fears local workers will be replaced with foreign seafarers as a consequence, who would be able to enter and work in Australia indefinitely without needing work visas.
Mr Nikolic rejected their calculations, instead arguing the former Labor government’s changes to shipping laws had driven a wrecking ball through the industry and cost seafaring jobs.
He said the fleet of major Australian registered ships plummeted since Labor’s amendments were introduced in 2013, with shipping’s share of Australia’s freight also declining sharply.
Mr Nikolic said freight quantity was expected to grow by 80 per cent over the next two decades, and shipping laws needed to be updated to keep up with demand.
‘‘Domestic freight is growing exponentially and shipping must carry a much larger share of the load,’’ he said.
‘‘The bill also has built-in protections for Australian workers in the industry and also for wages and conditions for all seafarers on foreign ships operating primarily in the Australian coastal trade.’’
Tasmanian Greens Senator Nick McKim wants the legislation dumped.
‘‘These [maritime union] figures are confirmation of the disastrous effect that the Liberals’ coastal shipping laws will have on Tasmanian jobs,’’ he said.
The Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee is due to report back on the shipping bill by October 12.
