AUSTRALIAN SHIPPING
Strategic fleet When the Labor leader came to Newcastle to relaunch a policy for a strategic fleet three generations of maritime workers were there to welcome him
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s Labor leader Anthony Albanese stood in an Akubra under the glaring sun at Newcastle Bulk Liquids Berth Mayfield 7, on January 4, maritime workers young and old were there to greet him. Alongside Catherine King, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development and local member Sharon Claydon, stood Gordon Wilson, 90, son Colin and grandson Jordan – representing three generations of seafarers. Also present were Ben Sirasch, a local seafarer sacked at sea from the MV Mariloula and local MUA member
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Liam Kelly. Wharfie Angela Moore, from Australian Stevedores, brought her daughter, Mia proudly wearing a union t-shirt and partner Dana Crampton, marine engineer on the David Allan port dredge. Fred Krausert, president of the MUA vets stood tall alongside Branch Secretary Glen Williams, Assistant National Secretary Jamie Newlyn, National Officer Mich-Elle Myers and tug worker Anthony Andrews. “Everyone here was pretty excited,” said Glen Williams. “We’ve seen ship after ship after ship go off the coast due to the abuse of the coastal permit system. It was good to hear a plan to
get Australian flagged, crewed and owned vessels back.” Williams said the timing of the preelection announcement was critical. “The world is in crisis,” he said. “With war in Ukraine and no Australian tankers or refineries available the price of fuel could go through the roof. The whole supply chain is in crisis. The lack of an Australian fleet is a glaring hole in our national security.” The Labor leader confirmed his commitment to a strategic fleet first announced by the then opposition leader Bill Shorten on board the Victorian Reliance II in Melbourne www.mua.org.au
