‘It’s not what we needed’ — WA family businesses hurt by Fremantle Port strike action

WA farmers have been caught in the crossfire of an ongoing strikes at Fremantle Port with crucial machinery needed for the upcoming harvest stranded thousands of kilometres away. Instead of being unloaded and taken to the WA farms which desperately need them, 42 combine harvesters, machinery and parts are en route to Melbourne and Adelaide after three ships were unable to unload in Perth in the past week. It comes as Fremantle Port faces its 71st day of industrial action by Maritime Union of Australia — WA members as they call for a “fair EBA” for port workers. Mingenew’s Justin Lucken’s family-owned transport business is one of those caught up in the debacle, with $250,000 worth of trailers stuck in limbo as ships turn back to the east. Mr Lucken and his brother Chris run seven trucks out of the Mid West town, taking grain from several farms to the local bin during harvest. Unable to source them locally and worried about driving into a COVID-19 riddled state to pick them up himself, he ordered two trailers from Victoria which were supposed to be unloaded in Fremantle yesterday. However, he received an email the day prior saying the ship had been turned around and it would be at least another two weeks before they arrive on October 21. “It’s not what we needed,” Mr Lucken said. “This year’s one of those years.” “I hope it’s smooth sailing from here, because if they don’t show up by the end of the month I don’t know what we’re going to do. “I’ll have to start digging around to buy something second-hand, which doesn’t help when you’ve spent $250,000 already on two new trailers.” Even if they do arrive on October 21, the business will be busy carting grain already and they will not only have to find eight hours to drive to Perth and pick them up, but it will take another three to four days to get them licensed, Mr Lucken said. WAFarmers grains section president and Esperance grain grower Mic Fels appealed to the union to get in touch so they could try to negotiate an agreement to ensure urgent farm machinery was allowed to move through going forward. “We don’t have a beef with MUA and I’m pretty sure they don’t have a beef with us,” Mr Fels said. “It’s small farm businesses who are caught up in this and their whole livelihood is relying on getting this equipment onto the farm.”