Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

This bill makes minor amendments to the Navigation Act 2012 in order to give effect to an amendment to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea 1974, known as SOLAS. Specifically, the bill amends the definitions of 'passenger', 'seafarer', 'industrial personnel' and 'industrial personnel vessel'within the Navigation Act 2012,as well as providing a specific regulation-making power for industrial personnel vessels.

The SOLAS convention commenced in 1980 with Australia signing the convention in 1983. SOLAS is administered by the International Maritime Organization, or IMO, a specialised agency of the United Nations. The IMO's Maritime Safety Committee is responsible for updating SOLAS and related codes. The main objective of SOLAS is to specify minimum standards for the construction, equipment and operation of ships, to ensure their safety. In Australia, the Navigation Act 2012implements our obligations under SOLAS, including regulating international ship and seafarer safety, and protecting the marine environment.

In November 2022, the Maritime Safety Committee adopted resolution 521(106) to amend SOLAS to insert a new chapter, chapter 15, titled 'Safety measures for ships carrying industrial personnel'. This chapter includes a requirement to comply with the International Code of Safety for Ships Carrying Industrial Personnel.

The carriage of industrial personnel differs to that of other passengers, as the vessels used are primarily offshore support vessels, and the transfer of industrial personnel often occurs in very challenging environments. This requires specialist skills and control measures not required in usual passenger operations.

The SOLAS amendment provides minimum safety standards for ships that carry industrial personnel, as well as for the personnel themselves, and addresses specific risks unique to these operations. Such personnel may be engaged in the construction, maintenance, decommissioning, operation or servicing of offshore facilities, such as windfarms, as well as offshore oil and gas installations, aquaculture, ocean mining or similar activities.

On 20 March 2024 the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties resolved that binding treaty action be recommended to give effect to the SOLAS amendment.

This bill gives effect to the SOLAS amendment and ensures Australia's compliance with its international obligations under the convention, and will allow foreign vessels in Australia to rely on the newly established International Code of Safety for Ships Carrying Industrial Personnel.

I commend the bill to the House.

Debate adjourned.