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Melbourne: Wharfies stood down after refusing to unload ship in breach of 14-day quarantine

WHARFIES have been stood down after refusing to unload a container vessel at the DP World terminal in Melbourne last night on safety grounds, identifying it as a risk to workers and the community.

The vessel docked in breach of the Federal Government’s 14-day coronavirus quarantine period.

The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) said wharfies understood their important role during the current crisis, but allowing the container vessel Xin Da Lian to breach the coronavirus quarantine period was simply too great a risk.

The union is also calling for a suite of measures to be cooperatively implemented to protect workers and the community and to keep the supply chains operating.

MUA assistant national secretary Warren Smith said, “The largest cluster of COVID-19 cases in Australia — which has already claimed several lives and caused hundreds of illnesses — was the result of inadequate measures put in place for the arrival of ships. What’s the difference with this ship?

“Wharfies don’t want to see a repeat of that blunder on the waterfront, but we still see ships allowed to dock inside of quarantine periods in breach of Australian Government Department of Health guidelines.

“An outbreak of COVID-19 on the waterfront would have a devastating impact on Australia’s supply chain given 98 percent of imports arrive by sea, disrupting the waterfront and stopping vital medical supplies, food, and household goods.

“It is vital we do everything possible to protect workers, including testing, physical distancing measures on the job, strong hygiene, cleaning, PPE and every other level of support available.

“It is irresponsible not to take the strongest measures to protect the workforce which is providing basic needs for the community.”

Mr Smith said the union had been working with employers to put in place a framework based on current health advice to protect workers and ensure the resilience of maritime supply chains.

“The employers as an industry have refused to engage with the union, instead going it alone and looking to opportunistically enact essential services legislation,” Mr Smith said.

“The MUA has been demanding improvements to biosecurity measures since January, and we will continue to fight for strict enforcement of quarantine periods, more proactive biosecurity measures, and testing for workers and crew of international vessels arriving in Australian ports and support for sick crew members.”

Department of Health COVID-19 information for the marine industry: https://www.mua.org.au/sites/mua.org.au/files/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-marine-industry_1.pdf 

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Launch of national campaign to promote social distancing on building sites

A NATIONAL advertising campaign has been launched to promote social distancing and strict hygiene on the nation’s building sites.

Denita Wawn, CEO of Master Builders Australia said the campaign would run for the next four weeks and was targeted to everyone working in the building and construction sector because everyone has a responsibility to ensure that social distancing and good hygiene are being practiced.

“Business owners, employers, construction workers, subcontractors, site managers – everyone must be accountable for social distancing and strict hygiene not only on building sites but also off site when on breaks and before and after shifts,” Ms Wawn said.

“As an essential industry it’s vital to the community and the economy that in this extraordinarily difficult time we can continue building and construction work to provide the livelihoods of 1 in 10 Australians and to support the viability of nearly 400,000 small businesses.

“It’s important that the health and wellbeing of everyone in our industry and community remains our top priority which is why the industry is continuing to embed social distancing and strict hygiene practices on site. It’s also why we have joined forces with the CFMEU and the AWU to promote an even stronger safety culture as our industry and our community faces the Covid-19 crisis,” Ms Wawn said.

“However, we do recognise the substantial cultural change that we are asking everyone in our industry to make. Everyone including workers, subcontractors and management are used to completing building projects as efficiently as possible.

"Social distancing is slowing work down, but slower work is better than no work and that is why we are asking everyone in our industry to step up and be accountable for doing the right thing to keep each other and the community safe,” she said.

“There are 1.2 million people and nearly 400,000 small businesses in communities around Australia that go to work every day in our industry which provides the most full time jobs and is made up of the most SMEs than any other sector in the economy. That is why we have launched this campaign,” Ms Wawn said.

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QRC statement on COVID-19 new border restrictions

THE Queensland Resources Council has been working with the Queensland Government as it seeks to tighten border restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19, which were first introduced from March 26, 2020.

"Our sector is committed to a ‘people first’ response and is strictly following the advice from Queensland Health and has introduced additional measures to protect the communities in which we operate," QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said.

Today the Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young released further directions on border restrictions to apply from 11.59 pm on Saturday, April 4, 2020 until the end of the declared public health emergency.

The requirement is for anyone entering Queensland from anyone State or Territory, who is not an exempt person, to self-quarantine for 14 days. Critical interstate fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) mine workers will be exempt  from the new restrictions.

During these turbulent times the resources sector is considered an essential service by both the federal and state governments to fast-track the economy to recovery.

The direction states that “an employee of a resources sector company or service provider is only an exempt person if they are a critical resources sector employee”.

Critical resources sector employee means a person that:

  • is required to be appointed under the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999; the Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999; or the Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Act 2004 and the position is mentioned in the list published on the Queensland Health website; or
  • has been approved by the Chief Health Officer as a critical resources sector employee

"The new measures do not affect drive-in, drive-out (DIDO) and FIFO workers travelling from within Queensland," Mr Macfarlane said.

Directions issued:

https://www.health.qld.gov.au/system-governance/legislation/cho-public-health-directions-under-expanded-public-health-act-powers/border-restrictions

https://www.health.qld.gov.au/system-governance/legislation/cho-public-health-directions-under-expanded-public-health-act-powers/border-restrictions/critical-resources-sector-employees

www.qrc.org.au

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Industry welcomes payment to keep tourism jobs

THE Federal Government’s announcement of wage support through the ‘JobKeeper' payment is a lifeline for Australia’s tourism industry.

"The Prime Minister’s program to ‘get us to the other side’ won't protect every tourism job, but it will help support some of the businesses who can get our export industry back on its feet,” Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) managing director Peter Shelley said.

“This is about keeping the knowledge and skills of our industry connected and we welcome the wage subsidy the Federal Government has put forth today. 

“Australia’s $45 billion export tourism industry has already been battered by January's bushfires which were closely followed by the closure of our China inbound market - two setbacks which hit the tourism industry long before the broader economy shutdown of recent weeks.

“Tourism employs one in 13 Australians and export tourism accounted for around 10 percent of our exports last year, so tourism's ability to get back on its feet quickly will help to drive our economic recovery."

Mr Shelley said the next step would be to look at how those tourism employees can be productive and turn their energy toward helping to build their businesses and take full advantage of the downtime.

“This remains a terribly challenging time for tourism businesses across Australia and sadly not all will be able to take advantage of this package, but the support for those businesses who can retain their employees will be welcomed.”

www.tourismdrivesgrowth.com.au

About ATEC

Australian Tourism Export Council is the peak industry body representing Australia's $45 billion tourism export sector.

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Indigenous opportunity inquiry is on hold

BY UNANIMOUS resolution of the Standing Committee on Indigenous Affairs, the current inquiry by into Pathways and participation opportunities for Indigenous Australians in employment and business has been temporarily suspended.

Committee Chair Julian Leeser MP said, "iin light of the continuing and evolving public health and economic challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Committee has decided to suspend its activities until further notice. The Committee greatly appreciates the contributions made to this inquiry so far."

Written evidence to the inquiry will continue to be accepted and instructions on making a submission can be accessed by visiting the committee’s webpage.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and business owners can also interact with the inquiry without having to prepare a written submission by completing an online survey. This survey can be completed anonymously if desired and can be accessed here.

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