Australian opposition leader Anthony Albanese reiterated the Labor Party’s promise to secure Australia’s supply chain and foreign trade with a new independent fleet.
announcement policy On January 3, Albanese said that as a country with a closed sea, Australia is more dependent on maritime trade than in most cases, and shipping is used to transport almost all of Australia’s imports and exports. Said.
Despite Australia’s reliance on maritime trade, he said that only 1 percent of the country’s imports and exports are shipped by Australian-owned vessels. The facts about Labor leaders said that this would make Australia dependent on other countries to transport important imports such as fuel.
“For eight years, the Morrison Joyce administration has been lazy and endangered national security and economic sovereignty as a large multinational company raised the Australian flag and dumped it.
We were able to board a ship and hire cheaper overseas crew members, “Albanese said.
“This destroys the work of Australian seafarers and none of the ships our country relies on to provide an important supply of crude oil, aviation fuel and diesel are registered in this country, Australia. Created a situation where people have crew members. “
Albanese emphasized that the COVID-19 pandemic exposes weaknesses in Australia’s supply chain and relies on foreign suppliers and carriers for important commodities.
“Without a strategic fleet, Australia’s key supply lines, including fuel imports, are vulnerable to foreign government decisions and the whims of international shipping companies,” Albanese said.
Workers, if elected, are proposing to establish a task force to focus on the resurgence of the Australian shipping industry.
“This task force includes representatives of the shipping industry, major charterers, trade unions, Australian companies and the Ministry of Defense,” said Albanese.
He will also be responsible for establishing a new fleet of 12 vessels, including roll-on-roll-off, containers, tankers and cargo ships. It may also be privately owned and commercially operated. However, during the national crisis, Labor said it would guarantee that the Australian Defense Force had provisions to allow access to ships.
The Task Force will also enforce the Marine Transportation Act and determine how to close loopholes within the Australian regulatory framework.In addition, they determine what the reform is
Needed to boost the shipping industry.
Albanese as well as the 2019 shortening Said Enforcement of coastal law counters the use of foreign-registered vessels in coastal transport, if available to Australian operators.Execution
Coastal law also aims to deal with foreign-registered vessels that do not illegally pay Australian wages to workers in the domestic sector.
It is unclear how workers are trying to explain the potential environmental impacts of large-scale shipping on Australian marine life. However, opposition leaders said local knowledge of Australian shipping workers should prevent environmental disasters on foreign flagships.
Australian Maritime Union (MUA) welcome Promise from Labor Party. Australia states that it is essential to have some certainty regarding trade. Paddy Crumlin, MUA’s State Secretary-General, said Australia cannot allow international shippers whose priorities may not match our priorities to be held hostage.
“The country’s strategic fleet could be adopted to move our strategic fuel stockpile from its current location in the United States and bring our fuels to Australia, which is in high demand in the event of an international crisis or disaster. There is, “Crumlin said.
This announcement was made by Port Australia, Australia’s premier representative of the Australian government and privately owned ports. Submission ((((pdf) To the Federal Productivity Commission in May 2021, Australia was overly dependent on foreign-registered vessels for its imports, exports, and coastal transport.
“The major number of Australian-flagged vessels has declined significantly in recent decades and currently operates only about 15 vessels, requiring the withdrawal of the company’s vessels for international trade with Australia. This poses a significant limitation on Australia’s ability to continue trade, as very few shipping companies serve Australia in the event of a situation. Focus of corporate change or bankruptcy, or national geopolitical Withdrawals may occur due to circumstances such as decisions, “the submission read.
Ports Australia recommended that the Productivity Commission begin mapping transport lines to keep up with the ongoing risks associated with Australia’s maritime trade.
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