Mr NEVILLE —My question is addressed to the Minister for Transport and Regional Services. Can the minister outline to the House recent progress which has been made in the reform process on the Australian waterfront? Secondly, what are the benefits of a more efficient and reliable waterfront for electorates like mine—namely, the seat of Hinkler?

Mr ANDERSON (Transport and Regional Services) —I thank the honourable member for his question. We are now seeing very real, lasting and quality reform on the Australian waterfront and that reform is in the national interest. When it comes to electorates like the one the honourable member repre sents—that is, export oriented electorates—the fact is that efficient ports and waterfronts are just like efficient tax systems. If they help exports, they help facilitate the creation of jobs. Therefore, no-one can deny that waterfront reform is very much in the national interest.

We have seen some truly remarkable and admirable figures in recent times—for example, those provided by Patrick chief Chris Corrigan for East Swanson Dock in Melbourne. With a cut in its work force of 50 per cent, Patrick's is moving 20 per cent more containers than last year: work force down 50 per cent, movement of containers up 20 per cent. The average crane rate is now 26 containers lifted per hour, in excess of the national average put down in the guidelines by the previous minister who had responsibility in this area. It is very interesting to note that Mr Coombs, quoted in the Drury report, said at the time that the benchmark of 25 set by the government could never—I repeat, never—be achieved in a country the size of Australia.

Mr Tanner interjecting—

Mr SPEAKER —The member for Melbourne!

Mr ANDERSON —In fact, not only has that been exceeded, rates of up to 35 container movements per hour have now been achieved in Melbourne, a truly remarkable result.

Mr Tanner —On one ship.

Mr SPEAKER —The member for Melbourne!

Mr ANDERSON —Those opposite plainly want to justify such things as the 150-minute truck turnaround times that we recently saw in Sydney when the MUA wanted to hold things up a bit, contrasted with the 20-minute truck turnaround times—as fast as anywhere in the world—we are now seeing at Swanson. All of this moved Alan Kohler of the Australian Financial Review to say:

It is hard to overstate the significance of the revolution that has occurred following the `loss' by Patrick Stevedores in the Federal and High Courts this year. Other Australian businesses must wish they could lose like that.

These results are plainly a vindication of the government's stance on waterfront reform, not to mention the courage and determination of Minister Reith. At the same time as they are a vindication of what we have pursued, they are an indictment of Labor's opposition to reform and to achieve more jobs as a result of an improved export performance.

Mr Tanner interjecting—

Mr SPEAKER —The member for Melbourne!

Mr ANDERSON —You opposed us all the way and you plainly still want—

Mr Tanner interjecting—

Mr SPEAKER —I do not intend to continue to warn the member for Melbourne.

Mr ANDERSON —He plainly wants to continue to side with those who want to hold back job opportunities for Australians. We have to act now to lock in the gains and to ensure that they are achieved at every container port in Australia and by companies other than Patrick. The government is backing this reform program with a $250 million package for redundancies administered through the Maritime Industry Finance Company. Any stevedore wanting to access these funds must have submitted its reform plans to the government by 31 December. We will not be backing off the pace of reform. The challenge for employers and unions alike is to match or better Patrick's levels of performance.