Qube has denied it is trying to delay the first national stevedoring code of practice
July 4, 2013
Qube Holdings has rejected claims it is trying to delay the approval of the first national stevedoring code of practice (SCOP).
The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) today accused Qube of trying to kill a code hoped to save lives on the waterfront.
Qube dismissed the claims as ‘false’.
“Qube is a strong supporter of the SCOP and is totally committed to a zero harm policy at all our works sites,” a Qube spokesperson says.”
But the spokesperson says the company is pleased the draft code will be subjected to a regulatory impact statement.
“We will continue to support the consultation process and hope that this process will produce a draft stevedoring code of practice, which can be implemented efficiently and without the risk of excessive cost and dangerous regulatory confusion,” the spokesperson says.
The MUA early this morning accused Qube and also DP World of putting lives at risk by delaying the safety code.
According to the MUA, the Department of Finance and Deregulation ordered a regulatory impact statement, despite a group of stakeholders agreeing there was no new cost associated with NSCOP.
The MUA states that as a consequence, Safe Work Australia agreed to release the code for public comment.
“DP World and Qube are trying to kill a code that will save lives on the waterfront, at the same time that most responsible stevedoring companies have accepted the code,” MUA Assistant National Secretary Warren Smith says.
“We are surprised that the Office of Best Practice Regulation would fall for a false campaign by two renegade companies that are out of step with the industry.
“We need to protect workers in an industry where workers are 14 times more likely to die on the job.”
Smith says Hutchison and Patrick, two leading stevedores, support the code and have confirmed that there is no cost involved with its implementation.
DP World was unable to be contacted for comment.