Truss to outline coastal shipping changes

The federal government is to outline the need for changes to coastal shipping rules, which Labor has dubbed "Workchoices on Water".

Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss is due to speak on key aspects of the new plan at a Shipping Australia lunch in Sydney on Wednesday.

Last week's budget papers flagged changes for foreign vessels operating in Australian waters, including "better aligning employment conditions for ships based in Australia with international standards".

The opposition's transport spokesman Anthony Albanese says if an Australian company seeks to move freight, maritime workers should be paid in accordance with Australian standards.

"The government's proposals would decimate the industry, the existence of which serves Australia's economic, environmental and national security interests," he said in a statement.