
Issue No 58		16 June 2000

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Environment

Life's a Beach

By Zoe Reynolds

Workers are invited to join an environmental campaign to protect the coastal communities and coastline from exploitation by multinationals.

A coalition of environment, labour and community groups, the Australian Eastern Seaboard & Ocean Protection (AESOP) was set up last summer in response to community outrage over Taiwanese companies devastating slabs of our coast for prawn farming, employing illegal workers and polluting our marine environment.

AESOP approached national office to join its campaign. In return the coalition has offered to lend support to the MUA/ITF flag of convenience and the Save our National Fleet campaigns.

"Alliances work well in Australia," said AESOP facilitator Sue Arnold. "Given the massive problems created by the World Trade Organisation, it seems timely that trade unions and community groups with common interests come together. The example of the Teamsters and Turtles in the US has been particularly effective."

MUA National Secretary John Coombs advocates union involvement in the campaign and is alerting relevant branch and port officials about the coalition in the hope the MUA can join the campaigns locally.

"The Maritime Union and the ITF have a strong policy and commitment to protecting the ocean environment, campaigning strongly against pollution of coastal waters by substandard shipping," the national secretary said in his correspondence with AESOP spokeswoman Sue Arnold.

"We have a joint position with Greenpeace against flag of convenience shipping in the world's tuna industry. As well, Greenpeace and the ITF are jointly campaigning against the pollution and exploitation at the world's ship wrecking yards. As such, we are most interested in supporting your

stance against the excalating number of foreign owned intensive prawn farms damaging Australian beaches."

Union relations with environmental groups is growing. Last year Greenpeace joined forces with the International Transport Workers' Federation/MUA in the campaign against illegal fishing by flag of convenience operators, signing a joint submission to the ILO. And Green politicians in NSW have offered to support the MUA in broad range of activities including Maritime Day.

The Surfrider Foundation, Queensland SunFish, a 40,000 strong recreational fisherfolk organisation, National Toxic Network, ORRCA (Ocean Rescue), North Queensland Conservation Council, Wildlife Protection Society, Australians for Animals, Water Research Foundation, Armstrong Beach Progress Association, environmental lawyers, scientists, and ndigenous groups are among the other groups supporting the coalition.

Reports of Taiwanese prawn farms operating in Queensland employing illegal workers on well below union rates were confirmed in February when l7 men were arrested on one prawn farm just north of Proserpine. Earth moving operators are being paid $10 a hour, whilst labourers are getting between $7-$9 an hour.

Mackay radio and press have run reports accusing the federal government of protecting foreign interests, and showing contempt for local people by refusing to do public environment reports before allowing the new developments.

Reports of prawn farms pumping 75,000 litres of pollutant into the local creek and coastal waters, destroying corals and breeding grounds for other marine creatures are widespread.

Sue Arnold says the situation is likely to get a whole lot worse. A recent Queensland Government funded study identified 87,278 hectacres, over 675 km of coastline as potential sites for intensive prawn farms.

The Goldilands farm at Armstrong Beach, for example, has been given a licence (for the term of its operation) for a minimum daily discharge of 37 500 m3 as well as being permitted to change up to 20 per cent of the surrounding biodiversity.

"Sixty hectares of pristine coastal forest has been bulldozed to the ground," said Sue Arnold. "Great holding bays have been gouged out of the forest graveyard. The damage is awesome to witness."

A study by the North Queensland Conservation Council of 10 intensive prawn farm licences issued in that state showed a total discharge of contaminants annually of 130 million cubic metres. Licences in one area permitted a discharge volume equivalent to the sewage outflow of about 1.5 million

people!

All these developments are affecting our World Heritage Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Sue Arnold says AESOP may well follow the example of the Tasmanian salmon farmers who are seeking undertakings from the big supermarket chains that they will only buy Australian salmon.

"So next time you chuck a prawn on the barbie, make sure it doesn't come from a Queensland based intensive prawn farm!"

For further information, contact Sue Arnold, Acting Facilitator, AESOP Coalition:

Email: mailto:[email protected]

Mail: PO Box 673, Byron Bay.NSW. 2481,

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  Issue 58 contents

Interview: After the Gold Rush
NSW building union leader Andrew Ferguson on life after the Olympics and why Che Guevara is his political hero.

Unions: MUA Women's Policy Back on Course
A hard hitting report by the Maritime Union's women's delegate Sue Gajdos prompts the union to, once again, promote its female members.

Politics: Raising the Rafters
Opposition leader Kim Beazley delivered a stirring address to last weekend's NSW ALP State Conference. Here's every word of it.

History: Time and Tide
Greg Patmore surveys the themes of Working Lives in Regional Australia in this introduction to the latest issue of 'Labour History'

International: Fair in the Land of the Free
More than 20,000 immigrant workers, union members and community and religious leaders packed a Los Angeles Sports Arena on June 10 in support of immigrant workers' rights.

Environment: Life's a Beach
Workers are invited to join an environmental campaign to protect the coastal communities and coastline from exploitation by multinationals.

Satire: More Pacific Coups Forecast
The popular holiday resort of Great Keppel Island is bracing itself for a bloody coup, following the rash of rebel uprisings in other parts of the Pacific.

Review: At the Barricades
Denis Evans' photo essay on the Patrick dispute captures the camaraderie on the Melbourne picket lines - solidarity that, like solder, welded workers and their communities together into a human barricade.

Crackdown on Fiji Workers Intensifies
Building Industry Braces for Post-Games Slump
Call Centre Battle Hots Up
More Sackings Spark Entitlements Showdown
Carr Establishes Labor Hire Inquiry
High Court Puts Workers At Reith's Mercy
Miners Hit the Streets Over Death Threats
Unions Urged to Reignite Republic Debate
Tips Rip-Off Sparks Hotel Picket
Community Workers to Lay Siege to Parliament
Water Workers Accept 14% Pay Rise
Counselling for Workplace Accidents
Korean Food Festival is Union Business
Che Helps Doctors Save Lives
Maude Barlow Public Lecture - Sydney June 27