THE Maritime Union of Australia has issued a statement claiming the Federal government has granted foreign workers COVID exemptions to take coastal shipping jobs.

The MUA said 58 foreign seafarers were granted COVID exemptions allowing them to fly to Australia and work on coastal trading vessels despite local workers being available to do the work.

“CSL Australia, the largest operator of dry bulk coastal vessels in Australian waters, was granted permission to fly the seafarers from the Philippines to Australia on a chartered Nauru Airlines flight,” the statement read.

“The foreign seafarers will be employed on vessels that primarily carry bulk materials for the construction industry between Australian ports.”

MUA assistant national secretary Warren Smith said, “The Morrison government must explain why CSL was granted permission to fly these seafarers from a COVID hotspot into Australia to work on coastal trading vessels when local seafarers were available to fill these jobs”.

 “This year alone, the Federal government has issued CSL with more than 160 temporary licenses allowing these flag-of-convenience vessels to undertake coastal trading between Australian ports,” he said.

CSL Australia had not responded to a request for comment at the time of publication, however, Maritime Industry Australia CEO Teresa Lloyd said it was the MUA that should be ashamed.

“The MUA should be ashamed of themselves – getting a crew change done should be applauded not attacked,” Ms Lloyd said.

“On a day when we’ve had reports of crew on the Brio Faith being at sea for 20 months you’d think that the pressure the shipowners and seafarers are under at the moment warrants primary consideration.

“Australia makes it very difficult to conduct crew changes and the last thing anyone should be doing right now is criticising those who are able to actually make it happen.”

Ms Lloyd said that on matters of crew nationality, everyone knew the Australian policy settings for the shipping industry .

“Everyone knows that there is a lack of incentive for the sector to encourage greater levels of Australian content,” she said.

“Taking aim at individual operators, doing the right thing by their crew by relieving them in the middle of a pandemic – which is far from easy and requires significant effort and expense, is extremely disappointing.

“Unless the MUA wants to see more cases like the Brio Faith, they really need to redirect their outrage.”