Australia’s Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, the Hon Tony Burke MP, has slammed the stevedore DP World and has refused to intervene to end an industrial dispute that has so far cost the Australian economy over AUD$1.34 billion and which, economic modelling has shown, can cost up to $20m-23m a day.
In a press conference yesterday, Thursday 18 January 2024, journalists asked Minister Burke what the result was of a meeting between himself and the stevedore DP World Australia, which is currently the subject of a series of severe industrial relations attacks by the waterfront union.
“I met today with both DP World and with the Maritime Union… I have made it very clear that I expect the parties to be at the table, to be negotiating and to be resolving this,” Minister Burke told journalists.
Minister Burke then fulminated: “I’ve made clear to both groups today, that I have no intention of intervening. I’ve made clear that I have an expectation that they will reach agreement. I will say, I think Australians are sick to death of having highly profitable companies say everything is the fault of them having to pay their workforce the same as their competitors”.
The Minister also launched a personal attack on the senior management of DP World Australia, criticising the individual in charge – who was previously the head of another well-known maritime company – for previously making an “announcement that he’s going to shut down every single major port in Australia”. However, Minister Burke, who was formerly an organiser for the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association from 1997 to 2003, did not make any similar criticisms of the waterfront unions which have – during bargaining periods past and present – repeatedly and frequently shut ports across Australia.
A journalist broached the topic of industrial action and the infliction of damage on the broader economy and noting that the Minister was effectively saying that “you [the Minister] will not intervene essentially no matter how bad it gets”. The journalist then noted the argument that the company is a linchpin in the economy and that if their operations are disrupted and that it has “huge consequences for the whole economy. Doesn’t it make them distinct from the others?” the journalist asked.
The Minister did not specifically address the point that rolling campaign of industrial action is harming the Australian economy, rather he said that he, as the Minister, would defend the laws that are passed and then went on to re-criticise the head of DP World for actions he took in unrelated job some time ago.
A journalist also asked the Minister: “do you agree with DP World’s view on what it’s costing the Australian economy?”.
Minister Burke responded that: “there is no information that I have had from departmental sources that would match some of what I have seen appear in the press in terms of full market impact”.
Shipping Australia views these comments from the Minister as somewhat surprising given that DP World’s views have been widely reported in the general media.
In addition, Shipping Australia has twice written to Minister Burke’s office explaining the economic impact. The first time was on 16 November 2024 when we summarised some key economic modelling and provided a range of references to publicly available reports. The second time was on 09 January 2024, when we repeated much of the content of the previous letter and also sent a copy of the economic modelling.
Shipping Australia is disappointed that Minister Burke has declared that he will not intervene in the waterfront union’s campaign against DP World Australia.
We have heard from businesses that the Australian supply chain is at, or near, breaking point; that truck operators are worried they will have to close business; that fast-moving goods suppliers might get delisted by retailers; that exporters cannot export; that ocean carriers are experiencing ten days of delay or more; and that Australia’s international reputation is being tarnished.
There are only a couple of thousand workers – who are highly paid and get good periods of leave – who are involved in the dispute. But there are many millions of Australians who will be adversely affected through the harm inflicted on the supply chain. This is truly a case of the Minister elevating the desires of the few over the needs of the many.
Shipping Australia again asserts that Australia cannot afford to bear the harm that this dispute is causing to the Australian economy and, as the industrial action rolls on, it will inflict increasingly more serious harm to businesses, jobs, and livelihoods.
The Albanese Government knows that there is harm being inflicted on the Australian economy. It has the opportunity to stop that harm. And it has chosen not to do so.
Shipping Australia once again asserts that Minister Burke should intervene to end this disruptive dispute and we call upon him to do so.
