QUBE HOLDINGS — MARITIME UNION OF AUSTRALIA
728. Hon COLIN de GRUSSA to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Ports:
I refer to the current industrial
dispute between the Maritime Union of Australia and Qube Holdings, which is
delaying the unloading and delivery of millions of dollars of farm equipment,
which is vital for this year's grain harvest, as well as critical
mining equipment and parts.
(1) Given the
length of this dispute and the impact this and the worker shortage is having on
the agricultural sector, why has the government not taken any practical action
to facilitate the release of this equipment other than simply monitoring the
situation?
(2) In the
event that this issue is not resolved prior to the commencement of harvest,
what actions beyond monitoring the situation will the government commit to?
(3) Does the
government stand by the statements made by Hon Kyle McGinn in his member's
statement in this house on 8 September 2021?
(4) When
considering the context of the statements referred to in (3), does the
government acknowledge that this may compromise any future practical action
that it may take to facilitate the release of vital farm and mining equipment?
Hon SUE
ELLERY replied:
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1)–(4) This
dispute is between Qube, its employees and the MUA. The state government is not
a party to it. This dispute is covered by the commonwealth Fair Work Act 2009.
Under this commonwealth legislation, the state has limited opportunity to
formally intervene in these disputes.
The state government is aware of some
delays in the agricultural sector and is monitoring them.