Keira MP Ryan Park has branded as a ‘‘bloody disgrace’’ a decision by Liberal MPs to vote against a motion calling for urgent action to help Port Kembla steelworkers.
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Mr Park, the Opposition spokesman for the Illawarra, put forward a motion in Parliament on Wednesday calling for a summit ‘‘to develop an assistance package to ensure these important jobs in the Illawarra are protected’’.
“My motion was not at all political, it was outlining the facts as we know and calling on the government to hold an urgent regional steel summit to work through solutions about how we can support the thousands of local families who will be impacted by this decision,” Mr Park said.
“To vote not to debate this is a bloody disgrace and a slap in the face for the community who each and every one of us have a duty to represent when we enter the NSW Parliament.’’
Mr Park said there was a range of actions the NSW government could consider, including mandating the use of Australian steel in NSW infrastructure projects and bringing forward infrastructure projects. “The government needs to act now to ensure practical support for workers and their families, not wait until we have unemployment soaring as a result of the flow-on impact that the BlueScope workforce cuts will have across other sectors,” Mr Park said.
“Every single Labor MP in this region is ready and willing to work with the government to support the hundreds of workers and their families.’’
