Talking Tactics

Senator George Campbell, ITF Australia Co-ordinator Dean Summers, MUA seafarer and campaigner Mick Killick and WA Labor MP Jan McFarlane, WA put their heads together outside Parliament House, Canberra, during the campaign to rescue the Australian shipping industry.

It was February 18 and a contingent of six MUA seafarers and officials were in town to lobby for maintaining the Australian flag on our coast.

"We were there to let everyone know how vital the shipping industry is to Australia," said Mick Killick (third left). "And also to bring the politicians up to speed on the blatant abuse of svps and CVPs at the expense of Australian jobs. And I think the politicians really appreciated that they got to talk with seafarers as well as union officials."

"It was a good example of how the union can use the processes of parliament to further our cause," said ITF Australia co-ordinator Dean Summers. "We achieved a lot."

The Canberra visit was run in co-ordination with the campaign to save the Yarra, a matter now before the Federal Court.