Premier Mike Baird was non-committal about a minimum ratio of Australian steel being used in the state's infrastructure projects when asked in State Parliament on Wednesday but he says the government will "remain engaged" with BlueScope Steel.
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As the Illawarra's campaign to save the Port Kembla steelworks took union representatives to Canberra, Keira MP and opposition spokesman for the region Ryan Park used question time in Sydney to question Mr Baird on government procurement.
"Given the grave uncertainty surrounding the future of BlueScope Steel in the Illawarra, will you agree to mandate that a minimum ratio of Australian-made steel is used in major NSW infrastructure projects?" Mr Park asked.
The Premier told Parliament: "I have met with BlueScope Steel, they are working very carefully on a strategy ... to combat the challenges that they are currently facing and we're happy to remain engaged with BlueScope Steel."
"What we do across procurement, obviously we have a focus in terms of any opportunity to drive the economy forward, but at the same time we have to ensure that there's value for taxpayers and that's what you'd expect across the policy," Mr Baird said.
"We will continue to do everything to support jobs in the NSW economy at every opportunity, that's what you get from us on this side.
"We will continue to support jobs, whether that be in terms of BlueScope and what they are going through or whether it be any other job or industry across this state, we are happy to support jobs because that is what drives the economy forward."