The Hon Senator Bridget McKenzie, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, writes:
As 2023 rolled in, I found myself in a place that feels like home to me – the ocean. Sailing from Hobart to Sydney on the return voyage of our famous yacht race, it was striking to see how this mighty natural wonder was indeed our nation’s highway for over 99 per cent of our trade.
Those in our maritime industry who spend half their year or more at sea, or our stevedores who work day and night to keep product moving, get to see this
first hand. We have an incredibly successful maritime sector. Most politicians would be surprised to learn our country has the fifth largest shipping task in the world, estimated to be 725 billion tonne-km.
Shipping is undoubtedly central to our nation’s success, and the industry continues to grow.
Without shipping, Australia stops.
A reliable and productive sector is critical to the strength of our nation.
The maritime industry therefore needs to be a forefront priority for government. Since stepping into the role of Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, I have championed the role of our ports as the gateway to our economy.
Senator McKenzie then addresses:
- Industrial action at DP World and rolling strikes
- Infrastructure
- Government-by-Review
- Go-slow on the Maritime Single Window
- The Strategic Fleet Policy
- Cruise ship operations at Melbourne
- And much more!
