1980 - Appointment of Sir John Crawford as independent
Chairman of a Joint Committee comprising shipowner and union
representatives announced by the Fraser Government.
1982 - Minister
Ralph Hunt of the Fraser Government approves government financial support
for training for seagoing employees and the establishment of the
Australian Maritime College.
Crawford Report completed,
recommending that:
- Financial incentives be made available providing manning meets
levels determined by a manning committee. Extension of investment
allowance to ships in international trades (previously applicable to
coastal vessels only) results in orders for 12 new ships.
- Depreciation of 20% pa commencing in the year prior to commissioning
(previously 6.25% pa).
- 2% import duty on imported ships be abolished.
1984 - Maritime
Unions under auspices of ACTU release "Proposals for the Efficient
Development of the Australian Maritime Industry"
Crawford
financial package comes into force April 1984.
Report of Joint
Shipping Task Force comprising representatives from the Departments of
Trade and Transport, and the Office of the Minister for Trade. The report
looked at productivity, terms of trade (the impact of fob terms), the
proportion of trade sold cif and c&f, the improvement to the
invisibles account of the balance of payments and the increased
contribution of Australian shipping with improved shipping technologies
(amongst other things).
The Report of the Joint Shipping Task Force
led to an investigation by the Transport Industry Advisory Council (TIAC)
in relation to matters including the cost of bunkering, fiscal incentives
and working arrangements of ships.
(TIAC comprised representatives
from all modes of transport from private industry, government and
government-owned enterprises, professional and trade associations,
academic institutions and users.)
1985 - On the initiative of Minister Peter
Morris of the Hawke Government, the industry parties organise an overseas
study mission to study manpower and training developments. Following the
report of the overseas study mission, the Minister establishes the
Maritime Industry Development Committee (MIDC)
June - Investment
Allowance withdrawn after only 14 months availability to overseas trading
ships.
1986 - TIAC puts submission to Minister "A Proposal
for the Development of Australian Flag Shipping" recommending three
year depreciation, beginning in year before commissioning. The report
maintained that the expansion of the fleet following the Crawford report
was a consequence of shorter depreciation periods, the extension of the
investment allowance to overseas trading ships and the manning reductions
on which these concessions were conditional.
October - Maritime
Industry Development Committee produces its report "Moving Ahead".
The report focussed on a radical reappraisal of shipboard management and
work practices:
- crews of 21 on next generation Australian ships
- create integrated ratings
- require Australian Government initiatives to provide a commercial
environment in which the industry could prosper
- commends TIAC submission.
December - Government
announces endorsement of MIDC report and introduces legislation to provide
capital assistance with purchase of new (or newly acquired second-hand)
vessels.
1987 - April - Ships (Capital Grants) Act 1987 provides
7% taxable grant to operators of new or second hand vessels providing
manning target of 21 is met and maintained:
- incentive to apply for five years in the case of new tonnage (until
30/6/92) and for three years (until 30/6/90 in the case of modern second
hand tonnage).
1988 - ANMA (ASA) puts industry plan to the Prime
Minister, Bob Hawke, outlining key reform requirements for an
internationally competitive shipping industry.
Shipping Reform Task
Force chaired by Ivan Deveson established by Federal Government to develop
a strategy for further development of the industry.
1989 - April -
Report of Shipping Reform Task Force handed to Minister Ralph Willis. The
SRTF developed an agreed package of reforms which it anticipated would
reduce the operating costs of Australian ships to that of comparable OECD
ships with national crews.
Government accepts broad thrust of SRTF
and (amongst other things):
- extends the 7% Capital Grant and accelerated depreciation for
additional five years - to 30/6/97
- rebates from 1/7/92 that component of marine diesel excise allocated
to road and rail (about $3 m pa).
- contributes up to $24,000 per package to a one-off redundancy scheme
- introduces programs to reduce crews on existing and new ships
- provides joint funding on a dollar for dollar basis for retraining
up to a ceiling of $5 m over three years for associated non-tuition
costs
- established the Shipping Industry Reform Authority for three years
from 1/7/89 to oversee the detailed development and implementation of
the reform strategy.
July - SIRA
commences.
1990 - January - Manning reductions on Crawford and
pre-Crawford vessels completed - average reduced from 31.2 to 25.5 in
these vessels.
1991 - July - Overseas study mission undertaken by SIRA:
- meets with government, shipowner and union representatives in each
of 6 OECD countries and seeks information through diplomatic channels on
a further 34 countries (14 responses received).
October -
manning reductions in Crawford vessels to MIDC levels completed - average
crewing levels reduced from 25.9 to 21.9 in these vessels.
1992 - Negotiation
for continuation of SIRA process beyond scheduled end of SIRA1 (30/6/92)
takes place in Shipping Reform Negotiating Committee.
August - SRNC reports to SIRA and recommends a further 3
year program of reform:
- objectives of further reform: reduction in average manning to 18.5,
introduction of enterprise employment and reduction in crew-to-berth
ratio.
1993 - SIRA extended - SIRA2 established to continue for
three years (from 1992) until 30/6/95. Rae Taylor appointed
Chairman.
1994 - Average crew sizes reduced to 18.
August - Final report of SIRA2 provided to Minister for
Transport: SIRA finishes twelve months early. Taylor report highlights
competitive gap and creates basis for analysis up to and including the SRG
process five years later (see below).
- SIRA2 report included detailed analysis of competitive gap between
Australian and representative foreign shipping.
September
- dispute over sale of ANL:
- ASA proposes inclusion of PAYE measure in packaged resolution of ANL
sale dispute negotiated between Government and maritime unions.
- Government embraces PAYE measure as part of resolution of ANL
dispute.
November - Minister for Transport, Laurie
Brereton commissions Mick Young to facilitate negotiation of crew
efficiency savings equivalent to savings to be generated by PAYE rebate.
Negotiated outcome in Maritime Industry Reform Agreement
1994
December - Legislation enacted to give effect to
PAYE rebate scheme commencing 1/7/95
1995 - July - PAYE
rebate scheme commences.
1996 - May - Coalition Government
announces legislation to terminate:
- the PAYE rebate scheme as at 30/6/96,
- the Capital Grant (to have been applicable to vessels delivered on
or before 30/6/97) as at 30/6/96, and
- the accelerated depreciation provisions.
Government
subsequently announces Capital Grant extension to
30/6/97.
August - Minister John Sharp established Shipping
Reform Group (SRG)
1997 - March - Report of Shipping Reform Group handed to
Minister Sharp.
August - Minister Sharp seeks alternative
proposals to SRG recommendations.
September - Negotiations
commence with MUA for introduction of enterprise employment.
- Ministerial responsibility for maritime industry transferred from
Transport and Communications to Workplace Relations and Small Business.
November - Minister Reith states industry must fix
enterprise employment and crew-costs before consideration would be given
to fiscal measures.
1998 - April - Document detailing implementation of
enterprise employment of ratings finalised.
July -
Implementation period of enterprise employment commences.
August
- Minister Reith agrees to consider progress made on enterprise
employment and crew-cost reductions and establishment of working group to
consider mechanics of determining how compliance with enterprise
employment implementation and crew-cost reductions might appear in
legislation associated with fiscal measures.
October -
Coalition Government re-elected. Maritime returned to Transport Portfolio
and John Anderson, Deputy Leader of the National Party appointed Minister
for Transport and Regional Services. Cheryl Kernot appointed Shadow
spokesperson for Transport and Regional Services.
November -
Shipping industry meets with Minister Anderson. Working Group to be
implemented and industry awaits response from Minister as to detail of
Working Group arrangements
December - Shipping Reform
Working Group commences its deliberations.
1999 - 13 May -
Shipping Reform Working Group Report handed to Minister Anderson
1st December - Minister Anderson announces Government will not
provide fiscal assistance to Australian shipping industry but that Cabinet
is still considering maritime policy issues.
2000 -
February - ASA members meet and determine to cease seeking fiscal
assistance from Caolition Government and to ensure instead that Australian
owners and operators are not disadvantaged in Australian domestic shipping
vis-à-vis their foreign competition in Australian domestic trades.
2001 -
March - ASA publicly promotes inequity of application of Australian
laws imposing costs on Australian ships while Government promotes use of
permits under Part VI of Navigation Act 1912 which allows foreign ships to
compete with Australian ships but escape costs imposed on Australian ships
because foreign ships escape importation under Customs Act 1901.
2 April - Letter received from Secretary, DoTaRS saying the
Department is investigating and analysing the industry's concerns over
being disadvantaged by imposition of Australian legislation not applicable
to foreign operators.
27 September - Full Bench of the Australian Industrial Relations
Commission finds that foreign crews in CSL (formerly Australian but now foreign flag, foreign crewed) vessels operating
continuously in coastal trades under Continuing Voyage Permits should be subject to award conditions.
October - Coalition Government re-elected.
13 December - Minister Anderson announces that the Australian
shipping industry's contention that it is subject to an anti-competitive
regulatory regime is "not without merit".
December - Announcement of Independent
Review of Australian Shipping (IRAS) sponsored by ASA and Co-Chaired by
former Ministers for Transport the Hon. John Sharp and The Hon. Peter Morris.
December - Cabinet considers a package of measures designed by Department
of Transport (without consultation with industry) to assist shipping industry by
supporting a maritime skills base. Industry advises these measures may not be ideal
and Cabinet refers matter to an Inter-Departmental Committee.
2003 -
3 March - ASA meets with Minister Anderson seeking clarification of
regulatory issues surrounding shipping legislation.
7 March - ASA sends letter formalising request for clarification of regulatory issues.
Prepared by ASA Secretariat - Updated July,
2003
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