OUTGOING national secretary of the Maritime Union, Paddy Crumlin, has used a lunch gathering to call for greater focus on restoring seafaring as a viable career path for young Australians.
The lunch was held at the Mission to Seafarers in Melbourne and was attended by an industry cross-section of figures from government, unions, stevedores and shipping lines.
Jake Field and Paddy Crumlin. Image: David Sexton / DCN
Describing attending the session as akin to being “a cobra at a mongoose convention”, Mr Crumlin said there was a misguided idea Australians were uninterested in maritime careers.
He said the industry needed to secure the young men and women, noting Australia was one of the largest shipping nations in terms of task.
He also defended cabotage provisions describing them as “essential to the national interest”.
Mr Crumlin said his 27 years at the helm of the MUA had been “a great journey” and it was “most satisfying because we have played our role in learning from the past and developing answers for the present so there could be a future”.
Mr Crumlin noted disagreements with shipping lines but “we laugh about it now because that’s the Australian way”.
Talking of achievements, he said he was particularly proud of the International Transport Workers Federation’s (ITF) contribution towards the establishment of the Maritime Labour Convention governing seafarer standards.
Mr Crumlin also the contributions of passed maritime champions including Alan Tait OAM, Peter Morris and Pat Geraghty.
He acknowledged the work of the Mission in allowing seafarers some social release in “the very short time they are in port”.
He said the Mission was important to us in Australian values of welcomeness and wellbeing.
“The real test of character when we reflect upon our lives is by what we have been able to achieve for others,” he said.
He pointed to Drewry research suggesting a global officer shortage and that “[Australia] should be making a contribution to secure the next stage of an industry that clearly is important to the world economy”.
Incoming national secretary Jake Field spoke to the gathering about the sacrifices of Australian mariners over the years including those who gave their lives in wartime.
He also spoke of working with industry stakeholders on the strategic shipping initiative and “position this country… to be able to provide that sustainability and sovereign capability”.
Moderating the lunch, former Mission to Seafarers Melbourne chair John Lines paid tribute to Paddy Crumlin for his contribution and welcomed Jake Field.
Mr Lines spoke about the work of the Mission, with feedback from seafarers on “how pleased they are to come to the Port of Melbourne”.
“They love it because the port is close to the city and they can come here [to the Mission] and have a very relaxed atmosphere,” he said.