Peter Lindsay (Herbert, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

I am extraordinarily surprised at the amendment that the Labor Party has moved to the Migration Amendment (Maritime Crew) Bill 2007. I enjoy listening to the member for Batman when he makes his contributions—and earlier today he made an excellent contribution in relation to airport security—but his contribution on this bill was, I thought, way off track. I thought it was ideologically driven and not driven by practice and good sense.

The Australian Labor Party has been very concerned about what is happening to the unions in the shipping industry. But, from my perspective, all I see is significant improvements in efficiency, significant improvements across the wharves and good things for Australia. The problem is that you cannot live in the past. The world continues to change and we continue to see the need to make further efficiencies. But, at the same time as making further efficiencies, both employer and employee can get a good outcome—you can get a win-win situation. That is what has happened on Australia’s waterfront and that is what is happening to maritime shipping.

The opposition’s second reading amendment talks about ‘careless and widespread use of single and continuing voyage permits for foreign vessels’, ‘permitting foreign flag of convenience ships to carry dangerous goods on coastal shipping routes’ and ‘failing to ensure ships provide details of crew and cargo 48 hours before arrival’. I do not see any merit in this amendment whatsoever. This bill—which, of course, is a migration amendment bill—produces statutory reforms that are needed to strengthen the integrity of Australia’s borders. The people of Australia want that. These statutory reforms are needed to strengthen the integrity of Australia’s borders.

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