Australian business owner says it risks collapse if DP World ports dispute drags on

Graham Lock, who runs a biodegradable napkin business in Melbourne, said his company had only just recovered from the pandemic and was now struggling to cope with months of delayed imports. Photograph: Ellen Smith/The Guardian

A small business owner has warned his company could soon collapse if an industrial dispute at Australia’s biggest ports continues to cause costly delays and supply chain disruptions.

His “desperate” plea for an end to the standoff came after the industrial relations minister, Tony Burke, confirmed he would meet with the stevedore DP World, which is part-owned by the Dubai government.