Published: 14 Sep 2010
Unions have joined industry in welcoming the return of Anthony Albanese as Transport Minister in what is regarded as Government commitment to implement the ship policy announced during the election campaign
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese has continually reinforced his commitment to seeing the revitalisation of Australian coastal shipping, the much needed fiscal incentives and reforms to the industry.
Now his reappointment to the key portfolio is seen as a Gillard Government commitment to seeing the policy implemented.
The Maritime Union welcomed the announcement this week that Mr Albanese would retain the job having developed a strong understanding of the importance of shipping to the nation.
Australian Shipowners Association chief executive Teresa Hatch and Shipping Australia chief executive Llew Russell have also both welcomed Mr Albanese's re-appointment.
"We welcome the continuity and look forward to being consulted on the policies to rebuild Australian-flagged shipping," Mr Russell said.
The government is also have to rely on the independents and the Greens who hold the balance of power in Parliament to have the policy implented.
WORKPLACE MINISTER
Meanwhile the new Workplace Relations Minister Chris Evans, a former union leader and industrial officer, is seen as a strong advocate for workers rights.
Senator Evans was WA secretary of the ALP before he was elected. Before that he headed the WA Fire Brigades Union for three years and was industrial officer for the LHMU's predecessor for five years. He took his place in the Senate after Labor's win in the 1993 election.
In his first speech , in August 1993, Senator Evans focussed on three issues: IR, the High Court's Mabo native title decision and constitutional reform.
On IR, he supported the Keating Government's plans to legislate to develop "real enterprise bargaining". He warned conservative state governments that he claimed were blocking cooperative federal-state relations on IR that they "should not doubt the commitment of the Labor Party to protect worker and trade union rights".
Senator Evans has also been a strong advocate of human rights, international law and Australian treaty obligations, stressing we must defend those fundamental rights against attempts to subjugate them to propositions designed to protect privilege, property, discrimination or inappropriate power.
