12 May 2015
Perth protest rally targets oil and gas giant Chevron’s New Zealand operation
A large and noisy rally targeting offshore hydrocarbon corporation Chevron has taken place outside the New Zealand
consulate in Perth.
The protest was called by the Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) and International Transport Workers Federation (ITF)
to alert the New Zealand public to the poor practices of Chevron, that have led to major disputes in the Australian
offshore oil and gas industry and around the world.
Chevron are a new entrant into the New Zealand oil and gas industry and it was recently awarded three offshore
exploration permits in the Pegasus Basin, in partnership with StatOil. Chevron is the operator.
Chevron is the operator of Australia’s largest LNG (liquified natural gas) project Gorgon, on the remote northern coast
of Western Australia, which has disappointed local communities by failing to meet commitments for local jobs and to
local businesses, poor safety and other conditions for workers, massive cost overruns and project mismanagement in its
construction phase.
A letter was presented to the Consulate for the New Zealand Government detailing workers concerns at the way Chevron
operates.
Maritime Union of New Zealand National Secretary Joe Fleetwood says the presence of Chevron is not welcomed by New
Zealand maritime workers.
“Our members work in this industry, we support responsible drilling with high safety standards, but we do not support
companies that have a bad environmental record and anti-worker agenda entering our industry.”
Mr Fleetwood says the natural resources of New Zealand must be used to the benefit of New Zealand workers and the people
of New Zealand, not simply to boost profits for multinational operators.
ITF President Paddy Crumlin says Chevron have a record of anti-worker activities and other bad practices in their global
operations.
ends