The Oceanic Viking Had To Go?

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The announcement by the Minister for Home Affairs, Brendan O’Connor, of a new Southern Ocean maritime patrol vessel raises serious questions about the protection of Australian waters.

Senator Ian Macdonald, who was Fisheries Minister at the time the Oceanic Viking was acquired and armed for patrol work in the Southern Ocean, has queried the fate of the Oceanic Viking.

“Is it going to be maintained as a second Southern Ocean patrol vessel, or is it now going to become a permanent home for illegal boat people in Northern Australia”?

“Or, is the lease of the Oceanic Viking not being renewed because the name is synonymous with another of the Rudd Government’s failures – this time in its border protection policy,” asked Senator Macdonald.

“As Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern and Remote Australia, the announcement of this work by a Newcastle company also reminds northerners of the way the Federal & State Labor Governments have conspired to shut the once vibrant ship building industry in Cairns.

“It now seems that all major ship building works in Australia are being conducted in politically sensitive southern electorates whilst the Cairns ship building industry is again overlooked,” he said.

“Perhaps Mr Jim Turnour, the Labor Member for Leichhardt and Senator Jan McLucas, both of whom claim to be advocates for Northern Australia, might explain why yet another government ship building opportunity is being overlooked for the North.

“The Oceanic Viking was primarily responsible for cleaning up the illegal Patagonian tooth fish trade in the Southern Ocean.

“I only hope that whatever the government is now doing, doesn’t in any way lessen Australia’s first class record in the protection of the Southern Ocean from environment and fishing vandals,” said Senator Macdonald.

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