The Container Transport Alliance Australia (CTAA) has confirmed another round of protests have occurred at the Port of Melbourne yesterday.
Late yesterday morning, protesters returned to block the entrance to Webb Dock just weeks after doing so earlier this month.
The CTAA says protesters suspended themselves from tripods while vehicles and people blocked the entrance to Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT) and other port facilities at Webb Dock.
The VICT prepared to reopen its gates from 2pm local time, but the CTAA mentioned worrying reports that some protesters were targeting trucks, cutting air and brake lines between the prime mover and trailer while graffitiing containers and trucks with spray paint.
“This demonstrates a premeditated intent by the protesters to come armed with weapons and devices to commit criminal damage,” the CTAA says.
“With a gate capacity of between 80 to 100 truck arrivals per hour, a three hour closure of VICT impacts on up to 300 truck movements. That’s 300 truck movements that will have to be undertaken sometime in the future, in addition to the import pick up and export receival work piling up on top of the delayed movements.”
The CTAA has warned that protesters online have given their clear intention to continue these protests to close Webb Dock on a regular basis.
“Ports in Australia do not receive the regulatory recognition that they deserve as “critical economic infrastructure”. Try to disrupt port operations in other countries in Europe or Asia and see how quickly you would be dealt with by enforcement authorities!” the CTAA says.
“Something has to give as law-abiding stakeholders in the freight sector who are just wanting to go about their business in moving vital freight to and from ports, including medical supplies, food and other essential goods, suffer these unnecessary and pointless disruptions.
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“Who pays for the delays and any criminal damage to equipment? Ultimately, we all do as it raises the cost of operations for transport operators and others.
“And, we all pay for the costs of police having to time and again respond to these situations to deal with the protest actions.
“The Victorian government needs to rethink the laws around the staging of protests and the critical nature of delays at ports.”
Victorian shadow ports and freight minister Roma Britnell says the closure of Webb Dock due to protests is causing “serious economic damage to Victorians”.
“Activists are blocking access to one of Victoria’s most vital freight hubs. Their actions are not only disruptive, they are irresponsible and damaging. This protest, once again, has come without warning. It is not peaceful. It is economic sabotage,” she says.
“Protesters are so emboldened, they live stream their vandalism and outrageous claims on social media. In just a matter of hours, significant losses will incur across the supply chain.
Delays at the port will drive up costs for everyday consumers and vital goods such as medicines may be held up.
“Targeting critical infrastructure to push an agenda is reckless and dangerous. These protesters show no regard for the livelihoods they disrupt or the communities they hurt. Their actions undermine social cohesion and cross the line when they vandalise.”
Britnell says an elected Liberals and Nationals government would introduce a Protest Registration Scheme and reinstate Move-On Powers so police can keep the community safe.
“The Port of Melbourne’s ongoing security and stable operation is essential,” she says.
“Why is the Labor Government allowing these protests to disrupt essential operations? If the legislation the Liberals and Nationals introduced to designate the Port of Melbourne as critical infrastructure had been adopted by the Allan Labor government we would not be in this situation.
“When protesters disrupt the port’s operations, Victorians pay the price through higher costs of critical goods. Victorians deserve better than to be held hostage by fringe elements. Our critical infrastructure must be protected from political extremism, and the government must act decisively to ensure this never happens again.”
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