However the ACTU is highly critical of the Howard Government's role in the weeklong dispute and the fact that under the Government's new IR laws workers protesting the loss of jobs can be subject to large fines and potential jail terms. ACTU President Sharan Burrow said: "The Howard Government will not stand up for Australian shipping but is willing to support fines for workers that do." Under the Government's new IR laws the crew of the Stolt were threatened with fines of $6000 and up to 12 months jail for taking strike action in support of their jobs. These workers were protesting about the loss of their jobs to overseas seafarers and the fact that the Federal Government has allowed the Australian shipping industry to be decimated by overseas crewed vessels operating on special Government permits. The number of Australian-crewed vessels transporting cargo between our ports has halved in the last ten years as the Federal Government has issued more and more permits to allow foreign-crewed ships ply the Australian coast. Instead of supporting Australian shipping the Government is punishing individual workers who are trying to protect local jobs," said Ms Burrow. More information: Maritime Union of Australia