Global cruise industry giant Carnival Cruises has been accused of running a rort.
The Maritime Union of Australia says Carnival Cruises is running a sham “home porting” operation in Australia while refusing to comply with basic Australian workplace safety laws.
Officials from the MUA this week ccompanied government safety inspectors from SafeWork NSW to an inspection of the cruise vessel Carnival Adventure in New South Wales waters, berthed alongside a NSW Government owned and operated passenger wharf at Circular Quay.
“The actions of Carnival Cruises alongside Circular Quay yesterday were a breach of state safety laws and they will now be prosecuted”, MUA assistant national secretary Jamie Newlyn said.
Changes to the laws in New South Wales activated this month allow worker safety organisations like the Maritime Union of Australia to launch proceedings in the state’s industrial courts to penalise companies who refuse to follow workplace health and safety laws.
“The actions of Carnival Cruises alongside Circular Quay yesterday were a breach of state safety laws and they will now be prosecuted”, MUA assistant national secretary Jamie Newlyn said.
Changes to the laws in New South Wales activated this month allow worker safety organisations like the Maritime Union of Australia to launch proceedings in the state’s industrial courts to penalise companies who refuse to follow workplace health and safety laws.
The maximum penalty for refusing, delaying or obstructing the entry of a WHS entry permit holder is $74,849 per incident. The Union and SafeWork NSW have now been refused entry on three separate occasions.
Despite marketing the vessel as being “home ported” in Australia, Carnival has repeatedly refused to recognise the lawful rights of Australian workplace safety officials and union permit holders to access the ship and consult with workers, the union says.
Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW), authorised inspectors and WHS entry permit holders have a lawful right to enter workplaces to consult with workers and advise them about their health and safety rights.
Newlyn said Carnival’s conduct raised serious questions about whether they should continue enjoying Ministerial exemptions to the Coastal Trading Act which allow them to operate foreign flagged ships in Australian waters.
“Carnival claims vessels like the Carnival Adventure are ‘home ported’ in Australia when it suits their marketing department, but when it comes to obeying Australian laws they suddenly pretend those laws don’t apply to them,” Newlyn said.
“You can’t have it both ways. If you are operating out of Australian ports, carrying Australian passengers, and marketing yourself as part of the Australian tourism industry, then you must obey Australian workplace safety laws.”
Despite marketing the vessel as being “home ported” in Australia, Carnival has repeatedly refused to recognise the lawful rights of Australian workplace safety officials and union permit holders to access the ship and consult with workers, the union says.
Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW), authorised inspectors and WHS entry permit holders have a lawful right to enter workplaces to consult with workers and advise them about their health and safety rights.
Newlyn said Carnival’s conduct raised serious questions about whether they should continue enjoying Ministerial exemptions to the Coastal Trading Act which allow them to operate foreign flagged ships in Australian waters.
“Carnival claims vessels like the Carnival Adventure are ‘home ported’ in Australia when it suits their marketing department, but when it comes to obeying Australian laws they suddenly pretend those laws don’t apply to them,” Newlyn said.
“You can’t have it both ways. If you are operating out of Australian ports, carrying Australian passengers, and marketing yourself as part of the Australian tourism industry, then you must obey Australian workplace safety laws.”
No comments:
Post a Comment