The NSW Government’s announcement it will outsource the operation and maintenance of Sydney Ferries is bad news for commuters and Sydney Ferries workers, the AMWU said.
The AMWU, which represents the skilled tradespeople who maintain Sydney Ferries, said privatising the iconic ferries was likely to undermine safety, maintenance standards, skill levels in the industry and on-time running.
“The Transport Minister calls this a ‘franchise’ – but it’s really privatisation,” said AMWU NSW Secretary Tim Ayres.
“We are extremely concerned that introducing a profit motive to the maintenance of Sydney Ferries will lead to corners being cut, compromising the safety of passengers and maintenance workers.
“Having made this bad decision, it’s now incumbent on the NSW Government to demonstrate how they will ensure the private operator maintains standards.”
The NSW Government must explain how it will maintain:
• the current high maintenance standards and the working harbor maintenance capacity at Balmain;
• specialist skills in the industry;
• the current 98% on-time running standard;
• and a safe environment for commuters and workers.
The AMWU is also urging the NSW Government to move quickly on ordering new ferry infrastructure – the major recommendation of the 2007 Walker Report into Sydney Ferries, which identified the ageing and diverse fleet as the major challenge facing the service.
“Sydney Ferries doesn’t need a private operator, it needs an updated fleet,” said Mr Ayres.
“The NSW Government must get moving on this and ensure the new infrastructure is built using NSW’s world-leading maritime manufacturing capacity.”