As the Maritime Labour Convention reaches its twentieth anniversary, maritime welfare advocates in Australia have intensified appeals for sustained and effective support for seafarers’ well-being, arguing that the federal government has not matched international commitments with durable domestic policy.

The International Labour Organisation’s Maritime Labour Convention, adopted in 2006 and now a cornerstone of global protections for workers at sea, sets minimum standards for living and working conditions and obliges ratifying states to support seafarer welfare, repatriation and related services.

Australia implements the convention through its Navigation Act and associated regulations, and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority oversees compliance and complaints under the MLC framework.

Advocates, including non-government organisations and industry stakeholders, have highlighted structural gaps in Australia’s approach to welfare funding for seafarers visiting ports, noting that on-shore networks and services often rely on short-term funding or voluntary contributions rather than a secure statutory mechanism.

Campaigners have pointed to sustained advocacy and analysis, including proposals for a maritime welfare levy modelled on successful international precedents, that could provide assured funding for port-based welfare facilities and services for the hundreds of thousands of seafarers arriving annually.

These proposals emphasise the need for legislative and policy action to secure long-term welfare resilience.

Australia’s seafarer welfare system has registered measurable outcomes under the MLC regime, with recent annual reports indicating a decrease in complaints about working and living conditions on vessels operating in Australian waters, and national bodies such as the Australian Seafarers’ Welfare Council working to coordinate support services.

Nevertheless, proponents of reform argue that without dedicated and sustainable funding, these efforts may not fully meet the practical and psychological needs of seafarers.

The debate over welfare financing comes as international updates to the MLC, agreed by governments, employers and unions, continue to strengthen protections including key-worker designation and improved repatriation standards.

The advocates’ calls reflect a broader push to align Australia’s maritime governance with evolving global expectations on labour rights and support for maritime workers.