Stevedoring Industry (Ports) Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1965 No. 39, enacted under the Stevedoring Industry Act 1956-1962, was introduced to address the specific needs of registered regular waterside workers at the Port of Mackay in Queensland. This legislative instrument was made by the Governor-General, in accordance with advice from the Federal Executive Council, to amend the existing Stevedoring Industry (Ports) Regulations. The primary objective of this regulation was to ensure that the workers at the Port of Mackay are required to attend or make themselves available for employment continuously throughout the year, thereby addressing a particular operational need identified in the stevedoring industry at that port. This regulation was designed to provide a legislative framework that supports the continuous operation and efficiency of the port, ensuring that labour requirements are met consistently to support maritime activities.

Scope and Application

The Stevedoring Industry (Ports) Regulations Amendment Statutory Rule, made under the Stevedoring Industry Act 1956-1962, amends the existing regulations to include the Port of Mackay in the State of Queensland as a continuous port. This amendment applies specifically to registered regular waterside workers who are required to attend or make themselves available for employment throughout the year at this designated port. The regulation aims to address the operational needs of the stevedoring industry in the region, ensuring that the labour requirements for continuous port operations are met. The amendment is a direct extension of the existing regulatory framework, which seeks to manage and standardise the conditions under which stevedoring activities are conducted across various ports in Australia. Notably, this amendment does not introduce new categories of workers or industries but rather extends the geographical reach of the continuous port designation to include Mackay, thereby affecting the scope of the existing labour regulations within that specific port.

Key Provisions

The key operative sections of this Statutory Rules document, specifically Statutory Rules 1965 No. 39, concern the amendment of the existing Stevedoring Industry (Ports) Regulations. Regulation 5 of the Stevedoring Industry (Ports) Regulations is amended to include the Port of Mackay in the State of Queensland as a continuous port. This means that the Port of Mackay is now treated the same as other continuous ports, requiring registered regular waterside workers to attend or make themselves available for employment from day to day throughout the year (Reg. 5). The obligations and requirements imposed by this amendment are that registered regular waterside workers at the Port of Mackay must now adhere to the same employment availability as those at other continuous ports. This includes being on call and available for work on a daily basis, ensuring that there is a steady and reliable workforce to handle the continuous nature of port operations. This amendment ensures that the stevedoring industry at the Port of Mackay maintains consistent and efficient operations, aligning with the requirements of other continuous ports under the Stevedoring Industry Act 1956-1962. In terms of potential offences and consequences, the legislation does not explicitly outline specific offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breach of these requirements. However, under the broader framework of the Stevedoring Industry Act 1956-1962, failure to comply with the availability requirements could lead to penalties as prescribed by the Act. These could include fines or other sanctions as determined by the relevant authorities. The exact penalties would depend on the interpretation and application of the Act and any associated regulations.