The Maritime Union of Australia’s national secretary Paddy Crumlin says Labor is likely to pursue coastal shipping reforms if it wins the 2019 federal election. He expects Labor to mandate that cargo ships operating between the nation’s ports must be Australian-flagged, with local crews who are subject to Australian conditions of employment. Minerals Council of Australia CEO Tania Constable says that such restrictions would lead to higher costs for businesses and consumers.. From The Australian:
…the MUA — now a division of the militant Construction Forestry Mining Maritime and Energy Union — told The Australian that Labor had promised the union it would tighten requirements on issuing temporary licences to foreign ships on domestic routes.
