ITF Launches Fourth Week of Action Across Queensland Ports

The Australian Inspectorate of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has launched its fourth Week of Action (WoA) across Queensland ports as part of its “Nowhere to Hide” campaign. The week commences on Monday, 16th June 2025 and will target all forms of seafarer exploitation, concluding on Saturday, 21 June, with a closing event in Brisbane where the final results will be made public.

 

This marks the fourth WoA in the three years since the campaign’s inception, building on a powerful track record of success. The ITF’s first three Weeks of Action have already recovered approximately $7 million USD in unpaid wages, with many additional cases still being pursued. The campaign continues to expose widespread abuse in Australian waters—abuse often hidden behind complex licensing arrangements and legal loopholes.

 

Throughout the week, Australian inspectors will be joined by ITF counterparts from Ireland, India, Canada, and the Netherlands, as well as a strong contingent of local volunteers. Ship inspections will be carried out across key Queensland ports, including Brisbane, Gladstone, Townsville, and Mackay.

 

Inspectors will be paying close attention to compliance with the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), which protects the rights of seafarers to fair wages, safe working conditions, decent onboard living standards, access to medical care, and timely repatriation. Breaches of these international standards have been uncovered in every previous Week of Action—ranging from wage theft and poor living conditions to denial of shore leave and inadequate food and water supplies.

 

The Week of Action is timely considering that the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has released its annual report on MLC non-compliance and seafarers' complaints. That report singles out Queensland as the second worst performer nationally behind Western Australia.

 

ITF Australian Coordinator, Ian Bray stated, “Western Australia and Queensland continue to be the worst and second worst performers on a consistent basis. In my four and a half years as the ITF National Coordinator both states have been at the bottom of the pile the entire time when it comes to seafarers' complaints, and if I was to hazard a guess, Port Hedland and Hay Point would be sitting at the top of the pile for most complaints received as they seem to be every year. It’s no surprise that both are major mining ports that spend a lot of time and money ensuring that scrutiny of human rights and exploitation abuse is made as difficult as possible and kept to an absolute minimum.” 

 

Additionally, the ITF Inspectorate will be scrutinising ships operating under Australia’s Coastal Trading Act and enforcing compliance with the Seagoing Industry Award, which ensures that international seafarers working on coastal voyages are paid Australian wages. The ITF has consistently raised concerns about the legal loopholes that allow shipping companies to avoid these obligations and will once again use this Week of Action to push for long-overdue reform.

 

The Week of Action will conclude with a closing event in Brisbane on 21 June, where the results of the inspections, enforcement actions, and broader campaign outcomes and announcements will be formally presented.

 

The ITF remains resolute in its mission to secure dignity, safety, and fair pay for all seafarers in Australian waters.