Mr SETTER - 1994-09-01
Mr Speaker, the importance of the Port of Darwin to the developing economy of Darwin is common knowledge, and we are all aware of government plans to further develop and
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relocate that port. To complement that, reforms in relation to an enterprise agreement with the waterside workers have been developed over the last several years. I understand that our port is now very efficient compared to what it was a decade or so ago. Can the minister advise us of the effect of the enterprise agreement?
Members interjecting.
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I see that opposition members are laughing and joking. They do not even consider that our ports are a matter of importance to the Territory.
Mr Ede: We are laughing at the Chief Minister wanting us to ask him a question about his trip, and we are telling him to make a ministerial statement.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr MANZIE: The operations of the labour at that port are important.
Mr Stirling interjecting.
Mr MANZIE: It is typical. They have no sense of what is required for the development of the Territory but, luckily, the people who are working on our wharves take a different attitude.
Mr Stirling interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr MANZIE: I thank the member for Jingili for his question because some massive changes indeed have occurred on our waterfront over the last few years. An enterprise-based agreement has been a success in every sense of the word since it was signed at the end of June this year.
Substantial reforms have been achieved in the following areas. There has been a reduction of 20% in the costs of stevedoring livestock and across-the-board reductions of about 12% in stevedoring charges with greater reductions expected in near future. There has been far more flexibility in work start times. There is more flexibility in terms of extending work shifts to complete vessels, and less costs are being incurred in relation to those extensions of time. There are further reductions in the period during which labour is idle. Obviously, that brings about a consequential reduction in costs so that there are changes in the arrangements involving labour call-outs at short notice. That has actually reduced the cost of such call-outs from about $10 000 to about $4000.
This enterprise-based agreement was signed by the stevedoring companies, Federated Stevedores and Conaust, as well as by the Maritime Union of Australia. In 2 months, the benefits have started to flow through. I believe we are entering a new era of cooperation between the stevedoring companies and the employees. That was demonstrated recently by an
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incident in which, I am informed, a single gang worked 5 rigged vessels in a single shift. I am informed also that, in relation to ports, that is of world-best standard, and it has occurred only in very recent times.
In summary, Darwin's port is the first in Australia to have renegotiated successfully a waterfront enterprise-based agreement. I must congratulate Trevor Charles, the branch secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia, for his fresh approach, and the members of the union who work on the waterfront because their attitude and approach is almost the opposite of the reputation that Darwin's wharf had some years ago. The people who work on our wharves are working for the advancement of the Territory. In some areas, their work practices are recognised now as being among the best in the world.
Mr Bailey: Can we have that in the record?
Mr Hatton: Credit where credit is due.
Mr MANZIE: Yes, indeed, credit where credit is due.
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr MANZIE: The member for Wanguri interjects, pooh-poohing what has been achieved on the waterfront.
Members interjecting.
Mr MANZIE: No wonder members opposite are in the wilderness ...
Mr Bailey: When did you sell your ...
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr MANZIE: I am amazed, Mr Speaker. One would think that the opposition members in this House would like to hear how well the waterfront unions are progressing in the Territory. Instead, they kick up a noise in an attempt to drown out the answer. Shame on them! We thank Trevor Charles and his crew for their efforts and for the advances on our waterfront. I hope that, in the future when our new port opens, we can stand in this House and say, not only to Australia but to the rest of the world, that we have the best port and the best services for people who want to use Darwin.
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Page 142
relocate that port. To complement that, reforms in relation to an enterprise agreement with the waterside workers have been developed over the last several years. I understand that our port is now very efficient compared to what it was a decade or so ago. Can the minister advise us of the effect of the enterprise agreement?
Members interjecting.
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I see that opposition members are laughing and joking. They do not even consider that our ports are a matter of importance to the Territory.
Mr Ede: We are laughing at the Chief Minister wanting us to ask him a question about his trip, and we are telling him to make a ministerial statement.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr MANZIE: The operations of the labour at that port are important.
Mr Stirling interjecting.
Mr MANZIE: It is typical. They have no sense of what is required for the development of the Territory but, luckily, the people who are working on our wharves take a different attitude.
Mr Stirling interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr MANZIE: I thank the member for Jingili for his question because some massive changes indeed have occurred on our waterfront over the last few years. An enterprise-based agreement has been a success in every sense of the word since it was signed at the end of June this year.
Substantial reforms have been achieved in the following areas. There has been a reduction of 20% in the costs of stevedoring livestock and across-the-board reductions of about 12% in stevedoring charges with greater reductions expected in near future. There has been far more flexibility in work start times. There is more flexibility in terms of extending work shifts to complete vessels, and less costs are being incurred in relation to those extensions of time. There are further reductions in the period during which labour is idle. Obviously, that brings about a consequential reduction in costs so that there are changes in the arrangements involving labour call-outs at short notice. That has actually reduced the cost of such call-outs from about $10 000 to about $4000.
This enterprise-based agreement was signed by the stevedoring companies, Federated Stevedores and Conaust, as well as by the Maritime Union of Australia. In 2 months, the benefits have started to flow through. I believe we are entering a new era of cooperation between the stevedoring companies and the employees. That was demonstrated recently by an
Page 143
incident in which, I am informed, a single gang worked 5 rigged vessels in a single shift. I am informed also that, in relation to ports, that is of world-best standard, and it has occurred only in very recent times.
In summary, Darwin's port is the first in Australia to have renegotiated successfully a waterfront enterprise-based agreement. I must congratulate Trevor Charles, the branch secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia, for his fresh approach, and the members of the union who work on the waterfront because their attitude and approach is almost the opposite of the reputation that Darwin's wharf had some years ago. The people who work on our wharves are working for the advancement of the Territory. In some areas, their work practices are recognised now as being among the best in the world.
Mr Bailey: Can we have that in the record?
Mr Hatton: Credit where credit is due.
Mr MANZIE: Yes, indeed, credit where credit is due.
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr MANZIE: The member for Wanguri interjects, pooh-poohing what has been achieved on the waterfront.
Members interjecting.
Mr MANZIE: No wonder members opposite are in the wilderness ...
Mr Bailey: When did you sell your ...
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr MANZIE: I am amazed, Mr Speaker. One would think that the opposition members in this House would like to hear how well the waterfront unions are progressing in the Territory. Instead, they kick up a noise in an attempt to drown out the answer. Shame on them! We thank Trevor Charles and his crew for their efforts and for the advances on our waterfront. I hope that, in the future when our new port opens, we can stand in this House and say, not only to Australia but to the rest of the world, that we have the best port and the best services for people who want to use Darwin.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016