The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) informed that Australia removed regulation that protect the country’s shipping industry, after repealing the ANL Act. The repeal of the law relates to the former publicly-owned shipping company Australian National Line.
MUA claims that “the primary aim of the ANL Legislation Repeal Bill is to remove the legal protection for a number of business names formerly used by the Commonwealth shipping company, including: ANL; Australian National Line; Maritime Agencies of Australia; and Searoad.”
The Morrison Government has found the time to draw up legislation to allow the foreign owner of the former Commonwealth shipping line to use business names and domain names that deceptively suggest an ongoing link to Australian shipping, yet they’ve been unwilling to do anything to actually support the local industry or seafarers
Maritime Union of Australia national secretary Paddy Crumlin, stated.
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He added that Australia should shift its focus on “supporting Australia’s economic and national security by investing in the strengthening of its domestic shipping industry.”
Not only has this had substantial economic and social impacts, it has left our island nation extremely vulnerable to any global conflicts or economic shocks that may disrupt maritime trade
Moreover, Mr. Crumlin said that these ships, which are often important for Australia, are many times registered in tax havens, while they are “crewed by exploited visa workers on as little as $2 per hour.”