This will be a costly, ill-advised mistake by the Federal Labor...

This will be a costly, ill-advised mistake by the Federal Labor government that like Labor outfits all around Australia is dependent on funding at election time from militant unions:

(from 'The Australian' online):

Merchant ship owners and local seafarers will be given tax breaks and direct government funding under a plan to create a strategic fleet of up to 12 Australian-flagged and crewed merchant vessels.

The government will investigate a recommendation for a new levy on ship arrivals to help fund the subsidies for an Australian-flagged fleet, while it will also consider a further “training levy” on the maritime sector to fund training programs for local seafarers.

Transport Minister Catherine King has released the report from an independent taskforce over what should be done to deliver the Australian-flagged merchant fleet.

The vessels would be Australian-crewed and operated on a commercial basis, but available for requisition by the Australian Defence Forces during times of conflict or natural disaster.

Ms King said the government had agreed to 12 of the report’s 16 recommendations “while committing to exploring the remaining four”.

“We are getting on with the job of revitalizing Australia’s long neglected maritime sector,” Ms King said.

“The creation of a Strategic Fleet will build Australia’s resilience, and protect our national security and economic sovereignty by enabling the movement of cargo in a time of crisis.”

The key recommendation that was agreed is reforming shipping corporate tax and income tax for seafarers to ensure the sector pays very little tax.

The report also recommends government assistance to “bridge the cost gap” of a local fleet.

“The taskforce notes that while government assistance to ship owners and operators alone would be sufficient to close the cost gap, the magnitude of government assistance required would be reduced with application of a revised seafarer tax offset and revised corporate taxation exemption which, if applied broadly to Australian vessels, will have the advantage of promoting more general investment in the Australian shipping industry,” the report says.

“This in turn will contribute to a broader pool of Australian vessels and skilled seafarers, which government could draw upon when required.”

Obviously hapless, incompetent and economical with the truth Minister for QAN Catherine King doesn't want to recall what the forerunner of part of today's CGFMMEU, the then Waterside Workers' Federation, did to its shame during World War 11 c.80 years ago:

https://quadrant.org.au/magazine/2014/01-02/treachery-unions-second-world-war/

Those who don't learn from the lessons of history are bound to see it repeat.