Hungry for Votes

MUA sceptical of Opposition policy on working harbour

The Maritime Union of Australia views with great scepticism an election campaign announcement by NSW opposition leader Peter Debnam in support of a working harbour.

"We have campaigned for a long time for the retention of a working harbour and the opposition has not been seen," said Warren Smith, Assistant Branch Secretary.

"This looks to me like a last minute election ploy. If a Debnam government was elected and did keep its word it really would be a return to the Hungry Mile with no job security, holiday pay, leave loadings and all the other conditions we fought for down there over the years."

Warren also noted the harbour plan outlined by the opposition was not well thought out and showed a lack of understanding of maritime and security issues.

While the union has been critical of the Labor Government policy of abandoning the working harbour, the MUA recognised they have played a positive role in protecting workers from the excesses of the Howard Government IR laws. The opposition wants to force these negative IR laws onto all NSW workers.

"The main focus of the MUA campaign to save the working harbour at this stage is to lobby for the reopening of White Bay and the retention of Glebe Island while supporting the development of infrastructure and job creation in regional ports," he said.

"We believe there is still plenty of overflow from Port Botany and Port Jackson to keep all four ports busy."