Abbott abandons Illawarra steel workers (11/10/2011)
Opposition leader Tony Abbott and the Coalition have shown serious contempt for Illawarra steel workers by voting against the Government’s $300 million Steel Transformation Plan Bill.
The Member for Throsby, Stephen Jones, said Mr Abbott and the Member for Gilmore, Joanna Gash, should be ashamed for having toured the Illawarra promising to support the jobs of steel workers, but then refusing to do so in the Parliament.
Australian steel makers are currently facing considerable pressures from external factors not linked to a carbon price, including a high Australian dollar, increases in raw material costs and weak demand for steel at home and abroad.
In recognition, the Steel Transformation Plan (STP) was negotiated between the Government, the industry and manufacturing unions to encourage investment and innovation in the Australian steel manufacturing industry.
Mr Jones said the STP has been publicly backed by the unions and BlueScope management and was in addition to the assistance being provided to the industry through the $9.2 billion Jobs and Competitive Package, which forms part of the Government’s Clean Energy Future legislation.
“Mr Abbott has ignored clear calls by the AMWU, AWU and the local community to back workers and support this additional assistance for the steel industry plan,” Mr Jones said.
“In doing so, Mr Abbott, Ms Gash and the Coalition are abandoning Illawarra workers and their families, yet again.
“He should now apologise to BlueScope workers and steel contractors for having pretended to care about their jobs as part of a dishonest scare campaign.”
The STP Bill was debated alongside the Clean Energy Future legislation, which provides a comprehensive plan to tackle climate change and ensure that Australian industries like the steel manufacturing sector can continue to compete and remain prosperous into the future.
