"The industrial action at four Australian ports is causing further disruption to Australia's international supply chains – already on the brink of collapse due to local and global COVID related shut downs," Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the national employer association Ai Group, said today.
"As an island trading nation Australian businesses rely on two modes of transport: Sea Freight and Air Freight. The closing of our international borders has reduced Air Freight to a trickle, creating an unusually heavy reliance on our shipping lanes. To choose this time to embark on industrial action, particularly with importers and exporters preparing for Christmas demand, hoping to recover the sales lost during shut downs, is putting our economic recovery at risk.
"This action is costing Australian companies tens of thousands in additional fees each week, and crucially the delays are further compounding the reputational risk of being a poor supply chain partner.
"We welcome the Federal Government's intervention to bring the industrial action to a stop given the widespread economic damage it is causing," Mr Willox said.
