Media Event: A Rally supporting a Fair Go for Tassie Workers will be held today
When: Friday 14 August, 1pm at Parliament Lawns
The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union State Secretary John Short is calling on the State Government to come clean on how many Tasmanians were actually employed on the Spirit of Tasmania refurbishments.
“Minister Hidding initially denied claims that 100 international workers were carrying out work on the refurbishments. It has since been shown Minister Hidding was wrong. The number of international workers was 145, even higher than initially suspected,” said Mr Short.
“Minister Hidding needs to publicly retract his statement that attacked the unions’ claims, and come clean to the Tasmanian people.”
Trimline’s Andrew Richards has confirmed of the 330 workers, 145 were international and 185 were from Australia.
This is well short of the 200 Tasmanian workers the State Government are claiming.
“We need to know how many of the 185 Australian workers were from the mainland, and how many were from Tasmania,” said Mr Short.
“This is about ensuring we use Tasmanian taxpayers money to support Tasmanian jobs, Tasmanian families and the Tasmanian economy.”
“It is an outrage the State Government has allowed Trimline to weasel their way out of having to satisfy formal labour market testing,” said Mr Short.
Trimline used sub-class 400 visas that don’t require formal labour market testing, and could bring in workers from overseas without having to see if workers in Tasmania could fill the roles.
“We have internationally renowned skilled tradespeople in shipbuilding right here in Tasmania. Obviously Minister Hidding and the State Government just do not care,” said Mr Short.
Media Contact: John Short – 0418 839 026
Media comment: Australian Manufacturing Workers Union State Secretary John Short will be available for interview on Parliament Lawns following this rally