NSW: Fed govt to blame for oil spill MUA

AAP General News (Australia)
08-04-1999
NSW: Fed govt to blame for oil spill MUA

SYDNEY, Aug 4 AAP - Federal government policy of promoting foreign flag shipping at the
expense of Australian shipping made the Sydney Harbour oil spill inevitable, the maritime
union said today.

"The Laura D'amato was a shipping and environmental disaster in the making - a foreign flag
vessel with a third world crew of convenience," Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) acting
national secretary Paddy Crumlin said in a statement.

Referring to earlier reports the vessel was Italian-crewed, Mr Crumlin said: "It was about
as Italian as fried noodles."

He said the oil spill was an example of how cheap, cost-cutting measures could backfire.

"Here we have an Australian refinery importing foreign crude oil when Australian-produced
crude oil is available," he said.

"They do this for no other reason than the ship is providing rock bottom, bargain basement
freight rates.

"It can do this because it employs Third World labour."

Australian harbours were largely free of maritime disasters before the decline of
Australian shipping, he said.

"Now we have a government that has suspended all funding to the industry and is advocating
abolishing cabotage which restricts foreign vessels carrying our domestic coastal trade," he
said.

"What's more, it is even considering crewing Australian ships with Third World guest
workers.

"Ultimately, Canberra is responsible."

AAP dep/tsm/it/br

KEYWORD: TANKER MUA

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