Martin Ferguson (Batman, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Primary Industries, Resources, Forestry and Tourism) Share this | Hansard source

to move:

That this House, in recognising support by the Australian Government, Maritime Unions and shipowners for the new International Labour Organisation consolidated Maritime Convention:

(1)

urges the Australian, State and Territory Governments to expedite recognition of the Convention by Australia; and

(2)

calls upon the Australian Government to commit:

(a)

resources to enhance compliance and enforcement measurers to ensure successful implementation of the Convention as shipping workers are amongst the most exploited in the world because of the extensive use of flag on convenience vessels; and

(b)

to cooperative processes including legislative change and resource allocation to support implementation of the Convention code as there is exhaustive documentation of violence, intimidation, double book keeping to cover up underpayment of wages and even rape and murder in the maritime industry.

to move:

That this House believes that the Australian Government should declare 3 September each year as Merchant Navy Day in Australia as a means of:

(1)

recognising the heroism of Australian seafarers in times of war;

(2)

acknowledging that during World War II, one in eight Australian merchant seafarers perished; and

(3)

noting that, in her address to the 2005 US National Maritime Day memorial service, US Secretary of Labour, Elaine L Chao, called on all Americans to honour the brave men and women who served the country, in times of war and said “American merchant mariners have a rich history in this nation… They have served in every American war since the United States was born. With their tradition of courage, patriotism and perseverance, merchant mariners have proven that they stand by this great nation no matter what the challenge. And in so doing, they have served as an inspiration to every generation of Americans.”; and

(4)

recognising the debt that all Australians owe to Australian merchant seafarers for the contribution they have made to the defence of this nation, particularly their role in the allied victory in World War II.

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