Michaelia Cash urges Work Place Relations Minister to intervene and stop disruptions at Australian ports

Shadow Attorney-General Michaelia Cash has accused Labor of failing to stand up to its “union mates” and urged the Workplace Relations Minister to intervene to help a Perth family, impacted by a wave of industrial action at Australia’s ports. Michelle Burrell told The West Australian her family’s specially fitted car and her son’s new wheelchair were stuck on a ship, American Highway, that has diverted from Fremantle — apparently to avoid strike action by the Maritime Union of Australia. “The Albanese Labor Government has the power under the Fair Work Act to bring this damaging strike to an end but they won’t act,” Senator Cash said. “Labor will always side with their union mates and are happy for Australians to suffer disruption and hardship as a result. “The best Minister (Murray) Watt has offered is to urge the parties to keep negotiating but what is he doing to help people like the Burrell family. The shipping broker engaged by the Burrell family, Dazmac, said thousands of people have become “collateral damage” of a long industrial dispute between Qube Holdings and the MUA. The MUA has contributed more than $12,000 to WA Labor since October, according to public disclosures. But the State Government said it can not intervene and is not party to the dispute. On Monday, Treasurer Rita Saffioti said it was the shipping company’s decision not to dock in Fremantle. “As I understand there was miscommunication and that we could have possibly had the ship containing those vehicles come to WA, but I don’t have any further details,” she said. The union has offered support to the Burrell family and said on Sunday that negotiations with Qube are progressing, but stoppages are scheduled for ports in Darwin and Melbourne this week.