THE International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) today expressed opposition to the decision of BHP to dump Australian crew from two vessels that carried iron ore from Port Hedland in Western Australia to steelworks in Port Kembla and to China.

The decision will see 80 Australian seafarers lose their jobs, ending more than 100 years of Australian-crewed iron ore shipping servicing BHP and BlueScope steelworks, to be replaced by foreign crew on Flag of Convenience (FoC) vessels.

“For over 100 years, Australian crew have serviced the iron ore trade between Port Hedland and Australia’s steel makers, BHP’s decision destroys one of the oldest national domestic shipping supply chains in Australia,” said ITF Seafarers’ section chair Dave Heindel.

“Seafarers aboard the MV Mariloula and MV Lowlands Brilliance have been discarded, left high and dry. It is disturbing that BHP has initiated this action six months before the expiry of the charter, with next to no notice to the unions. The ITF condemns the move and calls on BHP to reverse this decision,” he said.

The ITF strongly supports Australian cabotage arrangements and the right of Australians seafarers to work in the domestic trade employed under Australian conditions.

James Given, chair of the ITF’s cabotage task force said, “The ITF has consistently opposed the alarming use of legal loopholes to circumvent national legislation that is intended to secure the rights of Australian seafarers and their entitlements in Australia’s domestic shipping trade.

“Based on information we’ve received, BHP and BlueScope have had plans to remove Australian seafarers from these two vessels and operate with foreign crews well in advance of the notice that our Australian affiliates received.

“This neglect is unacceptable and not in line with BHP’s stated commitment to working with integrity and respect. The ITF and our maritime affiliates worldwide, strongly reject the company’s behaviour which seems orchestrated to avoid accountability in Australia,” he said.

BHP annually charters around 1,500 vessels, majority of which are FoC vessels, with some vessels not covered by ITF agreements leaving seafarers exposed to exploitation and abuse.

“As a leader in the global transport and logistics industry and a participant in the UN Global Compact initiative, there is an expectation that BHP sets positive trends and not promote a race to bottom for transport of BHP product in domestic and international trade,” said Mr Given.

“The ITF stands firmly beside our Australian affiliates and the seafarers on these vessels. We call on BHP to immediately meet with the unions to rectify the matter back to the status quo, and invite the company to work with the ITF to ensure protections for all seafarers in their global supply chain,” he said..

About the ITF

The International Transport Workers' Federation is a democratic global union federation of 670 transport workers trade unions representing over 20 million workers in 140 countries. The ITF works to improve the lives of transport workers globally, encouraging and organising international solidarity among its network of affiliates. The ITF represents the interests of transport workers' unions in bodies that take decisions affecting jobs, employment conditions or safety in the transport industry.

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THE International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) today expressed opposition to the decision of BHP to dump Australian crew from two vessels that carried iron ore from Port Hedland in Western Australia to steelworks in Port Kembla and to China.

The decision will see 80 Australian seafarers lose their jobs, ending more than 100 years of Australian-crewed iron ore shipping servicing BHP and BlueScope steelworks, to be replaced by foreign crew on Flag of Convenience (FoC) vessels.

“For over 100 years, Australian crew have serviced the iron ore trade between Port Hedland and Australia’s steel makers, BHP’s decision destroys one of the oldest national domestic shipping supply chains in Australia,” said ITF Seafarers’ section chair Dave Heindel.

“Seafarers aboard the MV Mariloula and MV Lowlands Brilliance have been discarded, left high and dry. It is disturbing that BHP has initiated this action six months before the expiry of the charter, with next to no notice to the unions. The ITF condemns the move and calls on BHP to reverse this decision,” he said.

The ITF strongly supports Australian cabotage arrangements and the right of Australians seafarers to work in the domestic trade employed under Australian conditions.

James Given, chair of the ITF’s cabotage task force said, “The ITF has consistently opposed the alarming use of legal loopholes to circumvent national legislation that is intended to secure the rights of Australian seafarers and their entitlements in Australia’s domestic shipping trade.

“Based on information we’ve received, BHP and BlueScope have had plans to remove Australian seafarers from these two vessels and operate with foreign crews well in advance of the notice that our Australian affiliates received.

“This neglect is unacceptable and not in line with BHP’s stated commitment to working with integrity and respect. The ITF and our maritime affiliates worldwide, strongly reject the company’s behaviour which seems orchestrated to avoid accountability in Australia,” he said.

BHP annually charters around 1,500 vessels, majority of which are FoC vessels, with some vessels not covered by ITF agreements leaving seafarers exposed to exploitation and abuse.

“As a leader in the global transport and logistics industry and a participant in the UN Global Compact initiative, there is an expectation that BHP sets positive trends and not promote a race to bottom for transport of BHP product in domestic and international trade,” said Mr Given.

“The ITF stands firmly beside our Australian affiliates and the seafarers on these vessels. We call on BHP to immediately meet with the unions to rectify the matter back to the status quo, and invite the company to work with the ITF to ensure protections for all seafarers in their global supply chain,” he said..

About the ITF

The International Transport Workers' Federation is a democratic global union federation of 670 transport workers trade unions representing over 20 million workers in 140 countries. The ITF works to improve the lives of transport workers globally, encouraging and organising international solidarity among its network of affiliates. The ITF represents the interests of transport workers' unions in bodies that take decisions affecting jobs, employment conditions or safety in the transport industry.

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DEFENCE Minister Christopher Pyne will visit Japan, China and Singapore from January 22-28.

In Japan, Mr Pyne will meet with his counterpart, Japan’s Minister for Defense,Takeshi Iwaya, and senior Ministry of Defense and Japan Self-Defense Forces officials.

Mr Pyne said he was looking forward to discussing Japan’s recently revised defence guidelines and identifying future opportunities for Australia and Japan to work together to contribute to peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region.

“I will take this opportunity to engage with defence science and technology and industry representatives to discuss opportunities for future collaboration and joint research and development,” Mr Pyne said.

Following his visit to Japan, Mr Pyne will travel to the People’s Republic of China where he will meet with his counterpart, General Wei Fenghe, Minister of National Defense, and other senior Chinese officials to discuss regional security and bilateral issues.

Mr Pyne said the Australia-China defence relationship is "a key component of our broader bilateral relationship". 

“The government is committed to maintaining a long-term constructive relationship with China, founded on shared interests and mutual respect – China and Australia’s success will go hand-in-hand,” Mr Pyne said.

Mr Pyne will then travel to Singapore where he will meet with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his counterpart, Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Defence.

“The Australia-Singapore Defence relationship is founded on strong, long-standing shared interests in regional trade, stability and security,” Mr Pyne said.

While in Singapore, Mr Pyne will also deliver the keynote address at the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) Fullerton Forum and share Australia’s perspectives on important security challenges within the Indo-Pacific region.

“Australia is firmly committed to supporting robust dialogue on regional strategic issues, and recognises the IISS Fullerton Forum, along with the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, as key regional defence and security institutions,” Mr Pyne said. 

www.defence.gov.au

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CONSULTATION on the new Code governing the conduct and practices of life insurance members of the Financial Services Council (FSC) has been extended until January 31, 2019.

The draft FSC Life Insurance Code of Practice is designed to lift standards in product design, sales, underwriting, customer service, complaints and claims handling.  The Code was first released for consultation in November 2018, which included public meetings in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. 

More than 20 submissions from the public and key medical, consumer, and welfare groups have been either received or are in the process of being finalised.

FSC CEO Sally Loane said several organisations had requested additional time to make their submissions to the new Code.

“We want interested parties to know that the period for consultation has been extended until 31 January – there is still time to get your views heard,” Ms Loane said.

In all, more than 30 significant changes have been proposed to how FSC member life insurers will treat customers under the new Code, including:

• Banning pressure selling of products and coercive retention tactics.
• Banning medical disclosure checking without reasonable grounds.
• Ensuring customers are no better or worse off at claim time (excluding fraud).
• Improving Funeral insurance to ensure people understand what they are buying.
• A raft of reforms to underwriting, claims and mental health.
• Separating Consumer Credit Insurance (CCI) from credit product sales.

To obtain a copy of the Draft Code and the Consultation Questionnaire, click here.

About the Financial Services Council

The Financial Services Council (FSC) is a leading peak body which sets mandatory Standards and develops policy for more than 100 member companies in Australia’s largest industry sector, financial services. FSC's full members represent Australia’s retail and wholesale funds management businesses, superannuation funds, life insurers, financial advisory networks and licensed trustee companies. FSC supporting members represent the professional services firms such as ICT, consulting, accounting, legal, recruitment, actuarial and research houses. The financial services industry is responsible for investing almost $3 trillion on behalf of more than 14.8 million Australians. The pool of funds under management is larger than Australia’s GDP and the capitalisation of the Australian Securities Exchange, and is the fourth largest pool of managed funds in the world.

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