BUREAUCRAT ADVISED CRUISE OPERATOR TO FIRE CREW AND HIRE FOREIGNERS INSTEAD

USPA NEWS - When the representative of the North Star Cruises Australia's owners asked transport department officials how that fitted with the coalition's budget message of supporting small business, the fact to sack Australian staff & hire foreigners on cheaper wages instead, they 'shrugged their shoulders'...

When the representative of the North Star Cruises Australia's owners, Bill Milby, asked transport department officials how that fitted with the coalition's budget message of supporting small business, the fact to sack Australian staff & hire foreigners on cheaper wages instead, they 'shrugged their shoulders' (Guardian Australia)


Under Truss's legislation, workers on non-Australian flagged vessels will only be subject to Australian wages and conditions if the ships trade in Australia for more than 183 days. It will also streamline requirements to a single shipping licence for boats operating between domestic ports.

Bill Milby said 'I asked... how they expected Australian expedition ship owners such as NSCA to compete with the foreign-crewed ships and remain in business and they suggested the following :
1. First take True North off the Australian Shipping Registry
2. Register True North in a foreign country, and, reflag our ship True North with a foreign flag.
3. Then replace the Australian crew (apart from the captain and chief engineer) with foreigner crew who would not be governed under the Australian labour laws and the Australian Fair Work Act.
4. The foreign crew would also be trained in a foreing country ““ not Australia, saving more money.

Source : The Guardian