Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I know my time will be cut short, so I will be quick. I want to follow on from the words of my esteemed colleague Senator Tony Sheldon earlier on and talk about DP World. Just like Qantas, DP World Australia made a record profit last year and, just like Qantas, they've decided to put their charges up even further. DP World has announced new portside increases that will amount to $232 per container at their operations in Sydney and Perth. This represents an increase of up to 52 per cent. You'd be a fool to think this doesn't flow on to the cost-of-living argument. While they're whacking the transport operators, somebody's got to pay for it.

But, worse still, while DP World make record amounts of money, they've decided to try and cut workers' pay and conditions. DP World Australia are seeking to reduce annual leave; alter work roster arrangements, some of which will have tax implications for workers; and further outsource work. Make no mistake: none of these changes, if they are implemented, will increase productivity on our wharves. Instead the cuts to workers' pay will go straight to DP World's bottom line. In fact, DP World's operation in Sydney has achieved 98 per cent shipping schedule reliability and a 10 per cent productivity increase across the operation without cutting wages, reducing annual leave or changing rostering commitments. You've got to compare the provocative actions of DP World to other stevedores on the wharf, who have passed on 17 per cent increases. I've got one line for DP World and for that lot over there: MUA, here to stay. MUA, here to stay. Do you like that?