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Planes, trains and automobiles…no ships

National Cabinets’ decision on Friday to streamline COVID-19 measures for the land-based freight industry (Media Release: Updated Freight Code Keeps Trucks and Trains Moving, 20 Aug 2021) is a welcome development for those sectors. Anything that can be done to assist industries to function safely and efficiently under COVID-19 safety measures is applauded.

However, there is one mega ship-sized hole in this plan for continued movement of goods to families and communities, a nonsensical omission for an island nation. The maritime sector, unlike land transport sectors – who have had facilitated border movements throughout the pandemic (albeit with some inconsistencies), has hard borders in place around the country for maritime workers. At best, this makes it very difficult for workers to move to their place of work and home again.

All too often, it has become impossible. This has left frontline maritime workers; unable to work, subjected to repeated periods in quarantine on top of their already months-long stints at work far from home; businesses crippled as they cannot plan on when, or if, their workforce will arrive; and industries at risk of slowdowns or stoppages. Maritime workers are critical to ensuring that the supply of goods and services that Australians need and want is not disrupted and that the trade-reliant Australian economy continues to function.

The maritime industry calls on National Cabinet to:
apply the same level of attention;
• the same rationale for action;
• the same consideration for the vital workers working at sea;
• provide a safe and workable protocol for cross border movements for vital maritime workers.

We can see a fantastic effort being put into place for land transport, we’d like to see the same for sea.
Source: Maritime Industry Australia Ltd

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