Campaign Quotes

Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery OAM: “As a Council, we are worried about the impact the privatisation of the Port of Port Kembla could have on our community… It is vital, as a community, our concerns are heard.”

Professor Philip Laird: “To me, it’s there’s a lot at stake – if it’s packaged off with Port Botany, you reduce any incentive for competition between the ports… we’ll get more trucks and it will make it harder for people to live here and commute to Sydney.”

Ian Fulford, Port Kembla Business Chamber: “nonsense… It just doesn’t make any economic sense.”

Arthur Rorris, Secretary South Coast Labour Council: “Their key consideration will not be the interests of the people of the Illawarra, it'll be their profitability and their hold over that market.”

Trevor Mott: “is that what the people of NSW desire, a Port controlled not by the people of NSW, the profits of what appears a futuristic port going to either a foreign government or a foreign enterprise, a port where workers safety and conditions now enjoyed taken away.”

Stephen Jones Federal Member for Cunningham: “why on earth are they flogging an asset which delivers a profit year in, year out… a dud deal for the Illawarra and it’s a dud deal for NSW”.

Dr Ray Robinson: “There is a high probability that foreign investment may have a significant share and that infers repatriated revenues overseas. Put another way, less revenue for Australians… the lessee has a jump start with an operational profitable concern – what a gift to strangers with our resources.”

Dr Mike Donaldson: "Some say that the Government should have passed the [port privatisation] enabling legislation only after all the expressions of interest were all in, but no doubt the Government is very aware of the huge problem it faces."

Dr Robert Carr: “History reveals that only a public harbour could be built in Wollongong… one thing remains consistent: the question of whose interests does privatisation of the harbour really serve.”

Wollongong Cr Vicki Curran: “They didn't go into the election letting people know about the privatisation of the port, so they don't have a mandate… They did feasibility studies for Port Botany but so far we haven't had … had any feasibility studies [for Port Kembla]. All we have is the assurances from government that it's a good deal."

Shellharbour Cr Peter Moran: “The ongoing income from the port could be much better spent providing basic services to the community rather than providing profits to what will potentially be an overseas lessee”.

Wollongong Cr Ann Martin: “This is also about how locals and visitors can access our surrounding waterways.”

Wollongong Cr Leigh Colacino: “I think privatisation of the port is a good idea. However, I think it’s being done in the wrong way.”

Olive Rodwell: “They are treating the whole issue with contempt - contempt for the people of the Illawarra and their wishes.”

Alice Scott, on meeting with NSW Treasurer Mike Baird: “He told us his side of the story, we told him ours… We told him why we think it's a rotten deal for the Illawarra and he tried to convince us what a great deal it is, but no it is not a good deal for the Illawarra at all.”

Editorial, Illawarra Mercury: “For the government to then turn around and lease the port for $500 million is simply staggering and brings into question its business nous... Wouldn’t it have been far smarter to keep the port in government hands and spend some of the profits on educating our children?”

Editorial, Illawarra News: “To the community, the Port is defensible space, a source of income and continuity. The Port’s history is entwined with that of the community. A reasonable conclusion is that its future is tied to that of the community’s as well.”

Illawarra News: “Scenes of impassioned red and a sea of big community hearts are expected for tomorrow's train trip to Parliament. Reminiscent of the Battle for Bulli in 1887, it is the women of Save Our Ports leading the way tomorrow.”

Save Our Ports campaign: “The NSW Government has previously said it needed $500 million from the privatisation of Port Kembla to make up for the supposed lack of funds to enhance NSW infrastructure. After the Auditor located $1 billion in extra money in the NSW Treasury, there really is no need to sell off Port Kembla at what is an inadequate price in the first place.”

OPINION - Port Kembla comparisions with Piraeus in Athens

Be Afraid – be very afraid. Port Kembla Harbour may well be a done deal re-sell off sorry lease. Trevor Mott writes.

Who knows who the lessee will be, but as sure as night follows day nothing will ever be the same again.

Capitalism or even State ownership does not mean the employees will receive a fair deal as the present day experience in Greece shows. State ownership does not mean the Greek Government rather the Chinese Government owned Cosco who now won fifty percent of the Port of Piraeus.

With Greece in financial dilemma, the Chinese took the opportunity shelling out $647 million dollars to get a foothold. Efficiency or as the Chinese commented "Every one here knows you must be hard working".

The harsh reality of privatization is hitting home with a sharp reduction in wages and job protection being the collateral damage. The thinking of capital is basically summed up this way I quote "We want to make money with work too many Europeans have pursued a comfortable, protected existence since world war two" unquote.

Sadly with privatization the Greek worker enjoyed at time enjoyed substantially more weekly income than the Chinese Government owned Cosco in fact today the Greek worker  is payed seven times less than the Government owned stevedoring.

The deputy director at the Piraeus Port Authority recently commented about the Cosco operation "Its like another country here".

That is the reality facing Port Kembla if or when it is leased. In fact before getting back to Greece a harsh reality confronts Australia if a foreign enterprise secures the Port for ninety nine years.

Security is compromised with the owner having full operational control, not a realistic situation or practical if the truth is known.

Back to the Port of Piraeus the same deputy director has accused the sold off part of the port are using subcontractors to hire unskilled, non union workers desperate for jobs.The workers are exploited by paying low wages.

The Chinese are accused of cutting safety corners and initiating third world standards.

The privately run part of the port are accused victimizing any worker who have the temerity  to raise concerns about safety violations.

A list of issues are clearly unsatisfactory to the Greek dock worker although it appears they the worker either accepts it or out the gate. The Chinese if they are the top bidder for Port Botany and Port Kembla have a saying regarding stevedoring "Cosco is their future  we are here to stay".

Really is that what the people of NSW desire a Port controlled not by the people of NSW, the profits of what appears a futuristic port going to either a foreign government or a foreign enterprise, a port where workers safety and conditions now enjoyed taken away.

Naturally emotional arguments about being efficient will be raised the bottom line is at what cost?

Forget about the million dollars over ninety years for the Illawarra there are far more burning issues that require answering, is it a done deal, are we going to be cop are company coming in running over everything Australian.

The State Government from recent past experience will legislate to run roughshod over the community.