Australia's Trade Stalled: Months of Delays as Dock Workers Strike at Major Ports

Australia's supply chains are under severe strain, reaching a "breaking point" due to increased industrial action at DP World terminals, warns a senior Maersk official. DP World, operating in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Fremantle, faces a prolonged pay dispute with local stevedores, leading to disruptive strikes since September last year. The Fair Work Commission has granted employees the right to stop work at terminals in Sydney, Brisbane, and Fremantle, with a partial stoppage approved in Melbourne. The Maritime Union of Australia blames DP World's Australian boss, Nicolaj Noes, for delays, highlighting his absence from recent negotiations.

Maersk's head of Oceania, My Therese Blank, emphasizes the critical state of Australia's supply chain, noting Maersk's shipping schedules are already 10 days behind. She predicts a recovery period of a couple of months once terminal operations normalize. DP World warns of widening delays on essential items, already two to eight weeks behind schedule, due to ongoing industrial action. As pressure mounts for government or Fair Work Commission intervention, Shipping Australia criticizes the authorities for not taking action to protect businesses and families, highlighting the worsening consequences of the crisis.

(Image: dpworld.com.au )