LABOR’S NATIONAL RECONSTRUCTION FUND WILL HELP US BRING MANUFACTURING BACK TO ILLAWARRA

22 April 2021

STEPHEN JONES MP

SHADOW ASSISTANT TREASURER

SHADOW MINISTER FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES AND SUPERANNUATION

MEMBER FOR WHITLAM

 

HON SHARON BIRD MP

MEMBER FOR CUNNINGHAM

 

Anthony Albanese and Labor’s commitment to a National Reconstruction Fund would help create secure jobs for Australian workers in the Illawarra after 8 years of policy drift under consecutive Liberal Prime Ministers.

Sharon Bird, the Member for Cunningham, and Stephen Jones, the Member for Whitlam, visited local specialised steel manufacturer Bisalloy Steel to discuss the benefits of Labor’s National Reconstruction Fund for local businesses in the Illawarra.

Labor’s National Reconstruction Fund would provide a leg up to companies like Bisalloy Steel, who operate right here in the Illawarra. As one of the only manufacturers of highly specialised steel applications, Bisalloy Steel is one of thousands of companies that would benefit from the $15 billion of investment that an Albanese Labor Government will provide.

Our plan to unlock investment opportunities is designed for companies like Bisalloy Steel that have been left behind after almost a decade of policy drift under the Liberals.

Labor’s National Reconstruction Fund will create secure, well paid jobs, build on our national strengths as a manufacturing nation, diversify our industrial base, and drive regional economic development and diversification.

Under the Liberals, we’ve seen the opposite. They goaded Australia’s car industry to leave, and they never came back. We rank dead last in the OECD when it comes to manufacturing self-sufficiency.

Just yesterday, Scott Morrison showed voters in the Illawarra that he’s not on their side. His “clean energy” announcement completely ignored the Illawarra and its potential as a major hydrogen hub, a view backed by business groups and the NSW State Government.  

Scott Morrison and the Liberals just aren’t serious about supporting jobs in manufacturing and new technologies in the Illawarra.

Under an Albanese Labor Government, the Illawarra will get the attention it deserves.