A Shorten Labor Government will work with the Australian cruise ship industry to enhance its recent rapid growth by increasing its access to facilities at Australian ports.

With cruising in Australia gaining popularity in recent years, operators are reporting the need for extra facilities in the nation’s ports.

Australia needs a government prepared to work with industry to enhance growth and create new jobs.

A Shorten Labor Government will also seek to increase the number of Australian-flagged vessels working on domestic shipping after three years of uncertainty caused by the Abbott-Turnbull Government’s attempts to undermine the Australian industry.

Last year the Senate rejected the Government’s WorkChoices on Water legislation, which was aimed at allowing foreign-flagged vessels crewed by mariners on third world wages to undercut Australian vessels with Australian crews.

The Abbott-Turnbull Government was prepared to sacrifice thousands of Australian jobs by destroying the Australian maritime industry.

But a Shorten Labor Government will support the Australian industry by continuing to implement the Revitalising Australian Shipping package, which will build the Australian fleet using a mixture of incentives for ship owners including tax breaks and training assistance.

Labor wants to see the Australian flag flying proudly off the back of vessels working in waters around Australia and around the world.

Instead, the Turnbull Liberal Government wants to wave the white flag of surrender on the very existence of an Australian shipping industry in defiance of our nation’s economic, environmental and national security interests.

To find out more about Labor’s plans for Australian shipping visit www.100positivepolicies.org.au/labors_positive_plan_for_shipping