Ferry fight brewing

As most people expected the State government's inquiry recommended that the ferry service be privatized:

SYDNEY'S ferry service should be operated in a partnership between the NSW Government and the private sector, and the entire fleet replaced, an official inquiry recommends.

The NSW Government today publicly released the report of a seven month inquiry into Sydney Ferries, conducted by Bret Walker, SC.

The report recommends that the Government take out a service contract with a private operator which would then run and manage the service.

Some ferry services could be scrapped and the NSW Government has been presented with two options, depending on whether a new fleet is purchased by the Government or by the private sector.

"Processes should be started as soon as possible to offer a comprehensive service contract, including fleet replacement responsibilities, to the market," Mr Walker says in the report.

He says Sydney Ferries' performance has been less than satisfactory, with the corporation consistently spending more than it has earned or received.

There is also an urgent need for an entirely new fleet of ferries for Sydney, which would provide an opportunity to reinvigorate ferry services and permit expansion, Mr Walker says....

And also as expected the unions are getting ready for a fight:

THE Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) has warned the NSW Government to be prepared for a battle if it moves away from public ownership of Sydney's ferry service.

The NSW Government today released a report, conducted by Bret Walker SC, into the operation of Sydney Ferries recommending the private sector be brought in to help improve performance.

MUA NSW secretary Warren Smith said his organisation would oppose any such move.

"We reject entirely that any sort of private outcome would be beneficial for the workers of Sydney Ferries, for the travelling public and the commuters of Sydney," he said......