New Zealand pioneered the concept of setting aside some of the port fees it collects specifically for providing welfare services to seafarers during port calls. It’s a model that Australia, and the rest of the world, should follow to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), says Paul MacGillivary, a long-time seafarer welfare advocate and currently a Human Rights at Sea (HRAS) Global Ambassador in Australia.
Over 500,000 seafarers visit Australia each year. To get time ashore, some sacrifice rest time, and many may have just a few hours to contact friends and family, shop, seek medical advice, or simply relax and enjoy a change of environment.
Australian charities are very supportive, but they also face funding challenges, and some have not been able to maintain their usual operating hours or advance new initiatives in, for example, counselling and mental health.
As a vocal advocate for HRAS’s Maritime Levy Campaign in Australia for the past four years, MacGillivary has been urging the federal government to create a national, long-term funding model for seafarer welfare to ensure Australia is meeting its obligations. The campaign’s core pitch: develop existing maritime levy structures – with minimal legislative amendment – to sustainably fund welfare services for seafarers arriving in Australian ports.
MacGillivary has developed an online survey for Australia’s Mission to Seafarers, Stella Maris, and other seafarer welfare stakeholders providers that aims to identify the port welfare resources that are already in place and any gaps that need to be addressed.
“The elephant in the room is always funding,” says MacGillivary. “We are advocating for changes in policy and legislation to better support these organisations, and their participation in the survey will be invaluable in helping to shape the strategies needed to support their daily work.
“Human Rights at Sea aims to ensure that all individuals at sea have protection of their fundamental labour rights. This includes assured and sustainable access to onshore welfare facilities within, or close to, commercial ports around the world.”
Labour rights are human rights, says MacGillivary, and they apply equally on land and at sea – including during port stays.
“Our efforts in New Zealand were successful, and we are now working to encourage Australia’s Department of Transport and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority to bring about similar changes.”
ENDS.
Read More (Maritime Levy Campaign Australia)
- Maritime Levy Campaign
- New Zealand Government drives legislative change in support of Seafarers’ Centres
- HRAS Pursues Australian Legislative Change for Long-Term Maritime Levy Seafarer Support
- Expansion of Port Welfare Committees in Australia driven by the changing dynamics of seafarer care
- Strategies To Overcome Obstacles To Implementing A Maritime Welfare Levy In Australia For Assured Seafarer On-Shore Welfare Facilities
- Shortfall in funding for seafarer welfare raised in UK Parliament
- Western Australian Forum to Review Potential for Welfare Levies
Source: Human Rights at Sea 2026.
AI. AI was not used in the drafting of this article.
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