| True North allegedly told to reflag offshore

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott’s
office has rejected claims that
North Star Cruises – operators of
the True North expedition vessel –
were told to sack their workforce
and hire cheaper foreign labour.
The claim appeared in a Senate
inquiry into new shipping laws.
Currently before parliament, the
proposed changes will relax rules
requiring foreign flagged ships
to pay Australian wages for their
first 183 days operating locally.
North Star’s Bill Milby has
insisted he was told by a Dept
of Transport official to consider
taking his ship off the Australian
Shipping Registry, allowing it to
pay lower wages to foreign crew.
A department spokesman has
denied the comment was made.
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