While industry leaders’ hands are still warm from all the applause afforded the NSW Government’s decision to reopen the state’s international borders, the red-letter day has been tainted with a last-minute decision by the NSW Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) to launch a train strike impacting hundreds of international arrivals.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been swift to condemn the action, describing the RBTU move as pulling the rug on the first day in nearly two years Australia has welcomed back international visitors.
“This is just not how you behave, he said.
”We’ve got international arrivals opening up today and the union’s welcome to them will be a train strike,” he said.
“Arrivals in Sydney have been left stranded at the train station alongside commuters and students after all city trains were cancelled just hours before the morning peak hour.
“This is not how this should be done.”
“It’s great news that international arrivals are returning, but the union movement has decided to really pull the rug out from under that on our first day back.”
Mike Parker-Brown is a UK-trained and qualified journalist and an award-winning travel communicator with more than 30 years experience.
Since 2002, Mike has worked as a freelance writer and PR consultant providing his services to major organisations in Australia and internationally in the tourism, aviation, hospitality, recruitment and export marketing sectors.
