PRIME MINISTER
FOR MEDIA 17 FEBRUARY 1988
The Structural Adjustment Committee of Cabinet met today
with the principal players in Australia's waterfront
industry. The reduction of shore-_ based shipping costs is
crucial to Australia's international competitiveness, and a
central element in the Government's general economic reform
strategy.
Thirteen Ministers, including all the senior economic
Ministers, attended the two hour meeting with participants
in the Government's Waterfront Strategy group, who between
them represent the full spectrum of importers, exporters,
port managers, stevedoring companies and the waterfront
unions. The Committee received full reports on the progress that has
been achieved over the fifteen months since the Strategy
process was set in train. While it was acknowledged that
there continue to be real problems on the waterfront, in
port administration and in linkages with land transport, it
was made clear that very real progress had already been
achieved, including:
successful second tier wage negotiations under the
co-ordination of the Stevedoring Industry Review
Committee, involving for the first time port by port
discussions and agreements leading to significant
improvements in work and management practices,
reductions in manning and other efficiency measures;
implementation of productivity based container packing
operations at depots in Melbourne and Sydney;
joint venture initiatives by the waterside Workers
Federation at small ports in Queensland, Victoria and
Tasmania which in some cases have halved the cost of
stevedoring of grain and other cargoes; and
improvements in truck-queuing and related problems.
The Committee was impressed with the general degree of
optimism that was expressed by the industry representatives,
all of whom expressed confidence in the possibility of
achieving significant improv ements in waterfront and port
efficiency, productivity and reliability. 004445
All of the industry representatives emphasised the
importance of continuing with the present process of
extensive consultations with both users and providers of
port stevedoring services, under the umbrella guidance of
the Inter-State Commission. A draft report is expected from
the Commission in July, which will outline the possible
elements of the major package of industry reform measures.
On the industrial relations front while problems still
remain, it was recognised by all parties that significant
progress has occurred in recent years and, further, that all
parties are committed to further improvements within the
framework of the Waterfront Strategy and bilateral
arrangements like the Stevedoring Industry Review Committee.
The Government will continue to liaise very closely with the
Waterfront Strategy group through the Minister for Transport
and Communications. Ministers were impressed by the evident
commitment of all parties and their willingness to work
co-operatively to achieve change. Accordingly there is a
firm basis for hope that the consultative processes that
have been set in train should result not only in the
resolution of a number of smaller obstacles to efficiency
along the way, but the achievement by the end of the year of
a broad package of measures that will achieve industry,
trade union and Government acceptance.
Attending the meeting with ministers were:
Sir John Moore, Chairman of the Stevedoring Industry
Review Committee
Mr Ted Butcher, President of the Inter-State Commission
Mr Ivan Deveson, Managing Director, Nissan Australia and
Chairman of the Importer/ Exporter Panel
Mr Ian Webber, Managing Director, Mayne Nickless, and
Chairman of the Industry Committee of the Waterfront
Strategy group
Mr John Jenkin, President of the Association of
Australian Ports and Marine Authorities
Mr Tas Bull, General Secretary of the Waterside Workers
Fede ration
Mr Colin Coventry, Executive Director of the Association
of Employers of Waterside Labour, and
Mr Ian Court, Industrial officer, ACTU 004446
Industry Committee
Committee will Oversee working parties comprising
representatives drawn from
transport opertars
stevedoring companies
freight forwarders
unions importer%/ exporters
port authorities
other government agencies
Role a To bring action to bear on day-to
Inhibiting efficiency particulorl,
arrangements and co-ordination be
various elements of the industry.
Importer/ Exparter Panel
Membership Representatives of major importer
of rural, mining and manufacturin
Role To bring forward for consideratioi
committees and the ISC Issues caum
or Increasing costs to Importers
To liaise with committees on the
made on considering Issues and pri
solutions to overcome problems fa4 SHORE BASED SHIPPING STRATEGY.
Inter-Stato Commission
Role Oversee and report to Goverameat as progress
of the Committees.
Assist the Committees and the panel developing
solutions to problems.
Develop comprehensive'data bae to allow
Iefficiency of the Industry to be assessed.
Draw up long term integrated plan for development
of the Industry. Stevedorina Industry Review Committee
Mambe rs
Association of Employers of Waterside Labour
Waterside Workers' federation of Australia
Australian Stevedores' Association
Australian Foreman Stevedores' Association
Federated Miscellaneous Workers' Union of
Australia
-Australian Council of Trade Unions
Role To consider all aspects of Improving efficiency
-day problems and productivity in the stevedoring Industry.
y Communication a To Implement changes to management and work
tween the practices as necessary to achieve Improved
efficiency.
Australi1an Transport Advisory Council's Standing
Camrtte Transport
and exporters Members
ggoods federal and State Transport and Marine Officials
aby other
sing problems
and exporters.
progress being
opos ing
cod by shippers. RoleC a To oversee action being undertaken on port and
rail matters.