Jun 23, 2011

Anchors away – national maritime reform sets sails

The Hon Anthony Albanese MP

Minister for Infrastructure & Transport

Leader of the House

Member for Grayndler

23 June 2011

All those interested in the future of Australia’s maritime industry now have the chance to have a say on the final shape of the regulatory regime which will replace 50 different pieces of state and territory based legislation with one set of modern, nation-wide laws.

Under historic reforms championed by the Gillard Labor Government, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) will from 2013 become the national regulator of all commercial vessels, not just those involved in interstate and international trade.

Over the next couple of months officials from AMSA will conduct the following series of industry and public consultations:

Location	Date	Time	Venue
Sydney	28 June	From 1pm	Sydney Masonic Centre Conference & Function Centre
Fremantle	5 July	2pm – 6pm	Fremantle Sailing Club
Darwin	7 July	2.30pm – 7pm	Mantra Pandanas Hotel
Hobart	25 July	1pm – 7pm	Hobart Function & Conference Centre
Adelaide	28 July	2pm – 5pm	Stamford Grand Adelaide
Port Lincoln	29 July	2pm – 5pm	Port Lincoln Hotel
Queensland	TBA
Victoria	TBA

I invite all parts of the industry to participate in these consultation forums and help the Government build an even stronger and safer maritime industry – essential to the ongoing economic development of our vast island continent.

Each year some 3,500 cargo vessels as well as more than 200 oil tankers and chemical carriers navigate through Australian waters.

The creation of a national system for maritime safety will lift standards and by establishing consistent design, construction and certification requirements reduce the regulatory burden faced by shipping operators.

Currently operators need separate certificates from the maritime authorities in each state and territory.

For more information about the consultation process, go to: www.amsa.gov.au.