Tony Sheldon (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to speak in support of maritime workers and the Maritime Union of Australia. They've both been negotiating in good faith for a new enterprise agreement for almost two years. Maritime workers have been heroes in the pandemic. They've kept essential supplies going in and out of Australia, at a risk to their own wellbeing from coming into direct contact with vessels arriving from high-risk countries and in some cases, like at Qube's Fremantle port, without even being provided with PPE. They haven't had a pay rise in two years, while companies like Patrick have been making a fortune off their backs.

In the last four years, Patrick's fees to customers have increased by 363 per cent in New South Wales and a whopping 1,031 per cent in Western Australia and there have been massive increases across the rest of the country. That money isn't flowing through to workers. That money went to a $68.5 million dividend and a $3 million pay rise for Patrick CEO, Michael Jovicic. Whenever maritime workers attempt to bargain in good faith for their fair share this government calls them thugs. I'll tell you what thuggery looks like. It's giving yourself a $3 million pay rise and paying a $68.5 million dividend while your essential workers have had a two-year wage freeze. This government has overseen the worst eight years in Australia's history for wages growth.