By David Jones | Public Affairs and Policy Manager, Business Sydney | Mob: 0448 285 996
Business Sydney today reaffirmed its call for Federal Government intervention in the long running industrial dispute that is harming Sydney businesses and others around the country.
The call for federal intervention came as DP World Australia, the company at the centre of the row, put a price tag on the devastating impact of the dispute that began last October — $1.3 billion and rising.
Business Sydney Executive Director Paul Nicolaou said Sydney businesses were among those affected with more than 40,000 containers backlogged at container terminals.
Mr Nicolaou repeated his call for the Federal Government to intervene in the dispute between DP World Australia and the Maritime Union of Australia, which has been happening since early October.
The dispute has come as a further setback for DP World Australia after hackers stole data that forced the company to shut down ports around the country for a period.
Shipping Australia has estimated that the industrial dispute is costing the Australian economy up to $20 million a day.
“Sadly, there are Sydney businesses at the end of the supply chain who are suffering as they await the delivery of goods that should have been on the shelves,” Mr Nicolaou said.
“These are businesses that came through the worst of the pandemic and were finally hoping for some clear air.
“Having goods tied up in an industrial dispute is the last thing they needed when they were looking forward to bumper Christmas-New Year sales.”
Mr Nicolaou said the uncertainty was ongoing with no resolution in sight for the rolling industrial action involving 24-hour strikes and bans on the unloading of ships.
“It’s time for action to end the uncertainty for businesses that are at the end of the supply chain and who find the current difficulties heartbreaking,” Mr Nicolaou said.