
Issue No 56		02 June 2000

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News

Surfing Carnivals Highlights Beach Threat

By Zoe Reynolds

Maritime workers will host surfing competitions in Coolangatta, Queensland and Wollongong, NSW this weekend to help raise public awareness about the silent invasion of the
Australian coast by substandard, foreign shipping.

"Foreign shipping is torpedoing our jobs, sinking our merchant fleet and polluting our coastline," said Southern Queensland Assistant Branch Secretary Dave Perry. "We're drawing a line in the sand. We're fighting them on the beaches."

Foreign ships have dominated the carriage of Australia's international trade for decades. But coastal trade and our coast has been protected by federal legislation restricting the carriage of our domestic transport to Australian flagged and crewed vessels where possible. Now that is all changing. The government is encouraging shippers to use cheap, foreign flagged and crewed vessels - a move that has ended up in the Federal Court in Melbourne.

"Too many of these vessels employ unskilled, sweated labour, holding fraudulent certification," said Dave Perry. "Many of them have to bribe manning agents to get jobs. Far too many are abused and exploited on the job. Too many of the ships are rustbuckets. It's a recipe for disaster. The Australian public would not pile on the top of overloaded buses or trains from India, nor would they like sharing the roads with trucks registered in the Philippines.

"This is especially so if they knew the people driving them are paid starvation wages and go without sleep for days at a time. We're calling on Australians to keep our beaches free of cheap shipping. We're raising the alarm so people know we are now at greater risk of ships running aground covering our beaches with oil."

The Queensland Year 2000, Old Malibu championships, are being held at Coolangatta Beach, on June 3, starting at 7.30am and going all weekend. Sausage sizzle, 9.30am. All welcome.

At the same time the Southern NSW Branch will hold a friendly surfing competition and environmental awareness campaign with the Koori community on North Wollongong Beach. An estimated 70 contestants will compete from 8am on Saturday, going all weekend, with lunch provided for families and friends. Visitors welcome.

"Indigenous Australians more than any others understand the threat an influx of substandard shipping will bring to this country," said Branch Secretary Mark Armstrong. "They didn't exactly welcome the first fleet. The destruction that another wave of foreign shipping will bring to our shores will be devastating."

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  Issue 56 contents

Interview: When the War is Over
Teachers Federation chief Sue Simpson has just come through the industrial dispute of a lifetime. But where to now for her members?

Politics: The Beazley Manifesto
Read the full transcript of Kim Beazley's Fraser Lecture develiered this week, where he unveiled Labor's new industrial relations platform.

Unions: Dudded on the Dock of the Bay
Until a few weeks ago Allan and Beverley Crelley had never ever heard of SERCO the big London multinational that specialises in winning contracts from governments committed to outsourcing their workers.

History: The Long March for Justice
Against the backdrop of the Walk for Reconciliation across the Sydney Harbour Bridge that took place last Sunday, it is worthwhile recognising that trade unionists were actively promoting the issue decades ago.

International: UK Unions Turn the Corner
Union membership is on the rise for the first time in 20 years, indicating an early response to union recognition legislation set to come into effect next month.

Work/Time/Life: Flexible Clerks Save Hours
The Australian Services Union has successfully blocked an attempt by wholesaler Davids Limited to force clerical staff at the company's Blacktown office from flexible working hours to a standard 38 hour week.

Review: Who Really Won the War?
It might be being pulped for a reference to serial-suitor Peter Costello, but 'Waterfront' has sparked some lively debate about our recent industrial history.

Satire: Gosper's New Torch Role
A week after he was excluded from the Olympic torch relay as a result of public criticism, Kevan Gosper has been reinstated by SOCOG President Michael Knight for a special project.

» Long Service Leave Push for Short-Term Workers

» Carr Asked to Act on Fiji Crisis

» Major Blow to Government Outsourcing

» Beazley Blocks Contracts as Reith Hits New Wall

» Carr Makes Formal Offer on Olympics Pay

» Surfing Carnivals Highlights Beach Threat

» Mail Stopped Over Junk Deal

» CBA Staff To Strike Over Queues and Abuse

» Women's Bureau to Stay in DIR

» Joy's Winter of Discontent

» Advocate Pushes Pattern Bargaining

» Nike Versus The Workers

» New Safety Laws A First in Australia

» Workers March for Reconciliation

» Labour Movement Mourns Loss of Neil Marshall (11th June 1943 - 31st May 2000)