Editing Transport in Australia (section)

==Merchant marine vessels==
[[Image:Melbourne--swanston-dock-container-crane.jpg|thumb|250px|A container crane and ship at the [[Port of Melbourne]].]]
[[File:Portbotanysydney.JPG|thumb|250px|[[Port Botany]], Sydney]]

In 2006, the Australian fleet consisted of 53 ships of 1,000 gross tonnage or over. The use of foreign registered ships to carry [[cabotage|Australian cargoes between Australian ports]] is permitted under a permit scheme, with either Single Voyage Permit (SVP) or a Continuous Voyage Permit (CVP) being issued to ships.<ref>{{cite web
 | url          = http://www.asa.com.au/industrypolicy.asp
 | title        = Industry Policy
 | author       = Australian Shipowners Association
 | publisher    = asa.com.au
 | access-date  = 2009-11-08
 | url-status   = dead
 | archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20091204011616/http://www.asa.com.au/industrypolicy.asp
 | archive-date = 4 December 2009
}}</ref> Between 1996 and 2002 the number of permits issued has increased by about 350 per cent.<ref name=cheap />

Over recent years the number of Australian registered and [[Flag State|flagged ships]] has greatly declined, from 75 ships in 1996 to less than 40 in 2007, by 2009 the number is
now approaching 30. Marine unions blame the decline on the shipping policy of the [[Howard government]] which permitted foreign ships to carry coastal traffic.<ref name=letter>{{cite web
 | url          = http://www.aimpe.asn.au/files/caltex_tanker_letter_to_fed_gov.pdf
 | title        = A new tanker ship for Australia
 | work         = Letter from the Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers to the Federal Minister
 | date         = 22 October 2009
 | author       = Martin Byrne
 | publisher    = aimpe.asn.au
 | access-date  = 2009-11-08
 | url-status   = dead
 | archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20110218204414/http://aimpe.asn.au/files/caltex_tanker_letter_to_fed_gov.pdf
 | archive-date = 18 February 2011
}}</ref>

There have also been cases where locally operated ships have an Australian flag from the vessel, registering it overseas under a [[flag of convenience]], then hiring foreign crews who earn up to about half the monthly rate of Australian sailors.<ref name=cheap>{{cite web
 | date         = 26 March 2002
 | url          = http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/03/25/1017004765455.html
 | title        = Maritime unions slam use of 'cheap' foreign labour
 | work         = The Age
 | author       = Paul Robinson
 | publisher    = theage.com.au
 | access-date  = 2009-11-08
}}</ref> Such moves were supported by the [[Howard government]] but opposed by maritime unions and the [[Australian Council of Trade Unions]].<ref>{{cite web
 | url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/07/13/1026185123874.html
 | title=Shipping out, and definitely not shaping up
 | author=Liz Porter
 | date=14 July 2002
 | work=The Age
 | publisher=theage.com.au
 | access-date=2009-11-08
}}</ref> The registration of the ships overseas also meant the earnings of the ships are not subject to Australian corporate taxation laws.<ref name=letter />