FEDERAL Member for Parkes and Shadow Assistant Minister for Resources, Jamie Chaffey, and Shadow Assistant Minister for Manufacturing and Sovereign Capability, Andrew Willcox, have announced the Coalition will push for a Senate Inquiry into the future of Australia’s metals manufacturing industry.
The Coalition says Australian smelters and refineries are at risk of collapsing, with an urgent need for a Senate inquiry to determine how to save the vital sector and the thousands of Australian jobs it provides.
Since May, 2022, electricity prices have increased by 10.6 per cent and gas prices have increased by 45.3 per cent for Australian manufacturers.
The Senate Inquiry will investigate how Australia’s manufacturing industry has got to this state, the impact of the actions of other countries, and what the unified, long-term plan is between industry and government to protect local jobs – without the constant need for costly taxpayer-funded interventions.
At least 10 smelters and refineries across Australia are asking the Australian Government for support. Across these facilities, there are more than 6000 Australians directly employed, and thousands of other jobs reliant on these facilities staying open.
To date, the Albanese Labor Government has promised more than $10 billion to struggling smelters and refineries.
However, more must be done to ensure the long-term sustainability of the industry, the Coalition says, with concerns copper, aluminium, lead, zinc and other metals and minerals are at risk.
“The resources industry is critical to our economy. It is our largest export industry and a major employer,” Mr Chaffey said.
“Our focus needs to be on job creation and sovereign security. Instead, this significant industry is on its knees with the potential of closing and losing thousands of direct jobs – and thousands more indirect jobs from supporting businesses and industry.
“It is time for a Senate Inquiry to uncover answers about how we arrived in this situation – and how we can ensure this industry keeps its important place in the national economy in the future,” Mr Chaffey said.
Mr Willcox said a Senate Inquiry will focus on uncovering how and why these major assets, and others like it across Australia, are being put in jeopardy, and what the Federal Government can and should be doing to prevent closures.
“If we let these important assets go by the wayside, others around the world, such as China and Indonesia, will fill the void, sending thousands of jobs offshore,” Mr Wilcox said.
“Australian smelting and refining are already up against it with stiff competition internationally and the closure of these facilities would be yet another blow to our sovereign capabilities.
“The Albanese Government needs to do more than just monitor the situation, which is why it is so important that I put this Senate Inquiry forward,” he said.
Shadow Minister for Industry and Innovation, Alex Hawke, said taxpayer-funded bail-outs are being contemplated by Labor.
“This is because of Labor’s repeated failure to address underlying energy, industrial and regulatory challenges,” Mr Hawke said.
Labor’s so-called Future Made in Australia agenda and their National Reconstruction Fund resemble the old interventionist policies of the 20th century.
“The proposed Senate inquiry would be a valuable opportunity to hear directly from industry and will help paint a more accurate picture of their challenges and opportunities,” he said.
