Government extends cruise labour exemption as union questions protections

Cruise operators will retain an exemption from Australian labour law until 2028 under a federal government decision that introduces worker protections but has drawn criticism from the Maritime Union of Australia.

For the first time, conditions have been attached to the exemption. Operators must not curb collective bargaining rights for crews, and complaints about working conditions must be passed to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

Transport Minister Catherine King said the measures would safeguard workers and support the Australian maritime industry. The government said this would be the final renewal of the exemption and that it was considering reviewing the laws.

The arrangement began in 1998 and permits cruise ships to operate under the international Maritime Labour Convention instead of Australian labour law. It had been scheduled to expire at the end of 2026.

Union national secretary Jake Field called for the exemption to be scrapped and for an industry investigation. He said the new protections were insufficient and warned that continuing the arrangement would further entrench exploitation of foreign seafarers. Separately, he said the exemption had come at the expense of Australian jobs.

The changes follow allegations from workers on some Carnival Cruise vessels about medical neglect, unsafe drinking water and working 12 hours daily, seven days a week. Carnival denied the allegations, said it met international standards and said maritime authority inspections had cleared its three ships.

Carnival said it was considering the announcement's details. Neither Carnival nor Royal Caribbean Cruises answered questions about whether they would begin bargaining with crews.