Today in Question Time, Police Minister Yasmin Catley refused to condemn the Sydney Branch of the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) for their active promotion of, and involvement in, last night’s blockade at Port Botany.
After last night’s blockade, the Sydney Branch of the MUA boasted on Facebook that the:
“Palestinian community had closed access to the Israeli-owned Zim vessel in Port Botany”.
The MUA celebrated and promoted illegal activity.
The MUA is an affiliated union of the NSW Labor Party, and in 2020-21 donated $30,498.28 to Labor. In her inaugural speech, In her inaugural speech to Parliament, Yasmin Catley said:
“The Maritime Union of Australia—whom I proudly call my friends—have had a significant influence in shaping my beliefs”.
Given the prospect of the MUA promoting blockades again and Yasmin Catley refusing to condemn their actions, Chris Minns must send a clear message to the MUA that this behaviour won’t be tolerated.
If Chris Minns is serious about calling out unlawful protests, he needs to call out his union mates.
If he fails to do so, it will be another example of Labor’s union mates calling the shots and running the Minns Government.
