Published: 8 Dec 2010
Maritime Union of Australia National Secretary and President of the International Transport Workers' Federation, Paddy Crumlin, today applauded the Federal Government's actions to further protect the Great Barrier Reef with tougher monitoring conditions for ships.
Mr Crumlin said Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese's announcement that the mandatory Ship Reporting System would be extended to the southern part of the marine park was worthy of recognition.
"The Gillard Government has to be applauded for its actions to further safeguard the Great Barrier Reef for future generations to enjoy," he said.
"The reef is one of the natural wonders of the world and as we have seen with the Shen Neng 1, which ran aground on the southern part of the reef in April, it can be all too easy for things to go wrong.
"The fact that each vessel entering the marine park will be tracked by radio and satellite will further safeguard the Great Barrier Reef.
"These measures will also serve notice on all vessels, especially foreign flagged ships, that they need to be extra careful when they are in or around the marine park, and ultimately we hope that it will prevent future groundings or incidents on the reef."
