The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) has released a media statement addressing DP World Australia's (DPWA) proposed investment of over $600 million to automate operations across its container terminals in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
The statement, published today, raises a number of concerns about the potential impacts of the automation program. The MUA suggests that the proposed changes will make Australian terminals "less productive, more costly and less safe", and claims that the company has not fulfilled its consultation obligations under the current Enterprise Agreement.
"The announcement has been made without fulfilling consultation requirements set out in the Enterprise Agreement signed off on by the company a little over a year ago," the statement reads.
The union argues that automation, while pitched as a productivity solution, may lead to slower operations, increased maintenance costs, and higher risk of system failure due to heat, weather, and IT-related vulnerabilities. Citing examples from international terminals, the MUA maintains that:
"The crucial 'box rate' metric is always higher when containers are moved by a team of human workers than by robots."
"This is not a company with a good track record of managing the security of Australia's port infrastructure. The risk of another cyber-attack on essential infrastructure grows daily…"
The MUA also drew a sharp contrast with Patrick Terminals, highlighting their recent early agreement with the union as a sign of industrial harmony and commercial pragmatism.
In a broader critique of the DPWA business model, the MUA pointed to landside charge increases, including a 52% increase in landside charges in 2024. The statement notably references commentary made at the time by Paul Zalai, Director of Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA):
"The magnitude of the increases are staggering, and in what is a real kick in the guts, they inexplicably have targeted Australian exporters with the largest increase."
The MUA's full media release can be read HERE.
FTA/APSA Comment
Given the scale of DPWA operations across key east coast ports, and the MUA's opposition to the proposal, there is understandable concern that industrial tensions could escalate, potentially leading to disruptions at container terminals.
As always, FTA/APSA encourages all parties to work collaboratively to resolve any disputes in the interests of national supply chain continuity and to ensure that commercial, operational, and workforce considerations are balanced.
We will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide further updates to members as they arise.
Further updates will be available on our website.
Tom Jensen - General Manager Freight Policy & Operations - FTA / APSA
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