List of Recommendations

Recommendation 1

3.81

The committee recommends that the Australian government quantifies and reviews the level of subsidisation across competing modes of transport to ensure that shipping is able to compete on an equal basis in accessing the infrastructure and markets it requires to operate.

Recommendation 2

3.83

The committee recommends that the Australian government reviews Australia’s coastal trading framework to ensure that Australian shipping supports the growth of emerging markets and trade, such as coastal LNG trading, offshore wind energy, and the expedition cruise sector.

Recommendation 3

3.85

The committee recommends that the Australian government continues to fund the operation of the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme and the Bass Straight Passenger Vehicle Equalisation Scheme.

Recommendation 4

3.88

The committee recommends that the current licencing system be urgently reformed to clarify its objective; expand its scope, including covering intrastate trading; reform the application process and provisions along commercial lines; and introduce a new type of temporary licence for operators who meet minimum Australian content requirements.

Recommendation 5

3.92

The committee recommends that the Australian government requires foreign‑flagged vessels to pay crew wages equal to those of Australian vessels while operating in Australian waters.

Recommendation 6

3.94

The committee recommends that the Australian government reviews the maritime tax concessions currently in place to ensure that Australia's tax system is competitive with other jurisdictions, and that it promotes the use of Australian ships and crews.

Recommendation 7

3.96

The committee recommends that the Australian government strengthens background checks to obtain a Maritime Crew Visa to better align with those required for applicants applying for a Maritime Security Identification Card, and monitor the ongoing applicability of the visa.

Recommendation 8

3.97

The committee recommends that the Australian government reviews whether the existing Maritime Crew Visa system is being exploited by sponsors to allow foreign maritime workers to be transferred to occupations which are not eligible for sponsorship.

Recommendation 9

3.98

The committee recommends that the Australian government retains the existing Maritime Crew Visa for seafarers on foreign ships undertaking short port calls as part of a continuing international voyage; and introduce a new, or special conditions, Maritime Crew Visa that enables foreign seafarers to be in Australia for periods of up to 45 days for one of six specified purposes, being:

ships undertaking interstate coastal voyages authorised by a temporary licence issued under the Coastal Trading (Revitalising Australian Shipping) Act 2012;

ships undertaking repairs, maintenance, or dry docking in Australia;

mother ships at anchorage in a roadstead in coastal waters awaiting barge loading;

ships docked or at anchorage holding inventory such as refined petroleum product awaiting access to an onshore storage facility or oil awaiting refining;

ships involved in production and processing, e.g. marine products; and

ships held at an anchorage point or wharf for biosecurity reasons, or if detained by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

In all other circumstances foreign seafarers be required to hold a Temporary Skill Shortage visa (Subclass 482), similar to the Canadian system.

Recommendation 10

3.100

The committee recommends that the Australian government commits to establish a strategic fleet, and that a strategic fleet taskforce be established to advise on the legislative, operational, funding, and requisitioning arrangements necessary to establish a strategic fleet.

Recommendation 11

3.102

The committee recommends that the Australian government establishes an Australian maritime cluster development taskforce to advise on the development of a maritime cluster in Australia.

Recommendation 12

3.105

The committee recommends that Part X of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 be reformed to ensure that it supports operators' continued access to frequent and reliable liner cargo shipping services at competitive rates and to ensure that liner service providers do not engage in anti-competitive behaviour.

Recommendation 13

4.38

The committee recommends that the Australian government identifies, develops, and implements policies to arrest the decline in Australia’s maritime employment opportunities, and promotes seafaring as a career for younger Australians. This process should be guided by a maritime workforce development stakeholder forum.

Recommendation 14

5.46

The committee recommends that the Australian government adequately resources the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to ensure it can effectively prevent and respond to shipping incidents into the future.

Recommendation 15

5.51

The committee recommends that the Australian government works with state and territory governments to develop a consistent national approach to the provision of waste reception services in ports.

Recommendation 16

5.53

The committee recommends that the Australian government strengthens the Australian Maritime Safety Authority's ability to detain ships which have caused, or are suspected of having caused, environmental damage, irrespective of the type of event which caused the damage.

Recommendation 17

5.54

The committee recommends that the Australian government considers all options, including ratifying the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks, to improve its management of wreck identification and removal in Australia, and strengthens its ability to recover any costs incurred recovering and removing cargo which has fallen overboard from a ship.

Recommendation 18

6.62

The committee recommends that the Australian government develops a fuel security strategy, which will include proposals to transition to locally‑sourced fuels as well as address supply issues.

Recommendation 19

6.63

The committee recommends that the Australian government meets its obligations as a member of the International Energy Agency to maintain emergency oil stocks equivalent to at least 90 days of annual net oil imports.

Recommendation 20

6.65

The committee recommends that the Australian government develops a national security strategy, supported by an Australian shipping capability, to ensure that Australia’s supply of essential items is not disrupted during crises and emergencies.

Recommendation 21

6.70

The committee recommends that the Australian government continues to advocate for improved safety standards, including work health and safety standards; working conditions; and wages for international seafarers, and rigorously enforces all existing protections and standards.

Recommendation 22

6.71

The committee recommends that the Australian government, in consultation with key stakeholders, improves counselling resources available on international vessels through the development of a Marine Order regarding employee assistance programs.

Recommendation 23

6.72

The committee recommends that the Australian government improves safety on domestic vessels, including by expanding the jurisdiction of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau to include incidents on domestic vessels; and that the Australian government commissions an independent review of the Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Act 2012 to consider whether it provides clear and simple standards for training, crewing, and qualifications to improve marine safety on domestic commercial vessels.

Recommendation 24

6.73

The committee recommends that the Australian government amends the Navigation Act 2012 to restore an appropriate balance in ships that are covered by the Navigation Act as Regulated Australian Vessels, and those covered by the Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Act 2012 as Domestic Commercial Vessels, to ensure the Navigation Act provides the default standards for Australian commercial ships.

Recommendation 25

7.88

The committee recommends that the Australian government reviews the regulatory arrangements for Australia’s privatised ports to ensure that they are fit-for-purpose and achieve optimal outcomes for the broader economy.

Recommendation 26

7.91

The committee recommends that the Australian government works with state and territory governments to review land usage around Australia’s key ports, with the aim of reducing congestion and ensuring adequate land is available for future port expansion.

Recommendation 27

7.92

The committee recommends that the Australian government works with state and territory governments to review the National Ports Strategy to ensure that there is a nationally consistent approach to managing and regulating port infrastructure and port services in ways that support the development of Australian shipping.

Recommendation 28

7.95

The committee recommends that the Australian government works with state and territory governments to investigate the increased use of infrastructure charges by stevedoring companies at Australian ports and to assess whether they should be regulated.

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