Upwards of 60 Australian longshoremen were stood down Tuesday after they refused to unload a container ship from China.
The Xin Da Lian docked at the DP World terminal in the Victoria state capital of Melbourne after leaving Shanghai on March 17. Union organizers claim the ship may be contaminated with coronavirus and should instead be held in quarantine.
The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) says the vessel is in breach of the federal government’s 14-day coronavirus quarantine period after visiting a Taiwanese port on March 19 during its voyage Down Under, local outlet News.com reports.
Workers say shaving two days off the quarantine period is “a risk to workers and the community” and those who refused to unload the vessel over concerns about the risk of the coronavirus were sent home.
DP World Australia chief operating officer Andrew Adam says the ship was cleared to berth by the Australian Border Force.
Thune draws flak for ‘Native American Day’ post
Trump Likened to Ancient Biblical Ruler Who Came to Aid of Israel, As Hostages Released, Peace Deal Signed
Ciattarelli team blasts opponent over ‘slanderous’ claim he profited from opioid deaths
North Carolina GOP plans vote on redrawing state’s House map
PepsiCo Announces ‘MAHA’ Makeovers for Doritos and Cheetos
Pressure mounts on Virginia Dems to clearly state view on trans bathrooms after bombshell emails
New Jersey county ordered to fix ‘unlawful ballot design’ that favored Democrats
Alex Murdaugh’s money man pays the price after admitting role in million-dollar crime scheme
Elizabeth Warren Slammed for ‘Gross’ Response to Israeli Hostage Release: ‘Just Say It’
Texas governor reveals reason why he and Trump have been working together so closely
Senate set for new vote to end shutdown, but gridlock over Obamacare subsidies remains
Senate Democrats ripped for holding luxury fundraising retreat during shutdown
Stephanopoulos Cuts off JD Vance, Ends Interview After He’s Called Out for Going Down ‘Weird Left-Wing Rabbit Hole’
World leaders congratulate Trump on bringing Israeli hostages home
Trump plays stand-up comedian in improvised, sometimes pointed remarks at Israeli Knesset
“Any crew members aboard a vessel that has been to mainland China must have been at sea for 14 days before they are allowed to dock in Australia,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.
“The union is not allowed to unilaterally declare a vessel unsafe. They are not allowed to create their own set of rules.”
MUA national assistant secretary Warren Smith said it didn’t want to see a repeat of Sydney’s Ruby Princess cruise ship debacle where the vessel was allowed to send all its passengers ashore without screening after it had docked.
“The largest cluster of COVID-19 cases in Australia … was the result of inadequate measures put in place for the arrival of ships,” he said in a statement as reported by local outlet 7News.
“What’s the difference with this ship?”
Story cited here.
