Mr Macfarlane joined NSW Industry Minister Anthony Roberts, BlueScope chief executive Paul O’Malley and a plethora of Illawarra politicians, union officials and business leaders for a round table discussion at the University of Wollongong’s Innovation Campus.

The 50-strong group of Illawarra representatives were given a chance to air their concerns and share solutions about the future of BlueScope Steel at Port Kembla and the region’s long-term economic development, during talks that lasted about 90 minutes.

As expected, Mr Macfarlane’s visit yielded nothing in the way of a rescue package announcement or immediate economy-changing measures.

Asked when we would see a plan for the region, Mr Macfarlane said elements of an overall "package" would be rolled out over the next month and ‘‘then gradually after that’’. 

‘‘There is a very big proposal that’s being discussed between Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, myself and the NSW government, which we’d prefer not to talk about just yet, but it would make a massive difference to this region," he said.

‘‘The solution isn’t just one thing and it isn’t just one package; the Illawarra is very much in the focus of the NSW and federal governments and we will work to build on the natural strengths.’’ 

Mr Macfarlane then spoke briefly of the region’s beautiful landscape and seascape, before he was asked elaborate on the proposal he hinted at earlier. 

‘‘I’d prefer not to because, as I say, there needs to be a package; Anthony Roberts and I have had a discussion this morning [Monday], we’ve agreed on a couple of things,’’ he said.

‘‘We have to get the sign off from his Premier and my Prime Minister but the region can be confident that we are going to make sure that we assist both the immediate issues in terms of the potential job losses at BlueScope but also put in place programs that’ll last. 

Mr Macfarlane said the proposal included ‘‘a range of things’’ and wouldn’t necessarily just involve infrastructure building.

‘‘I’m not going to be specific,’’ he told the media.  

Asked if he was aware how frustrating that would be for the hundreds of people whose jobs hang in the balance, the minister said workers would take solace at the diverse nature of representatives who were part of the round table. 

‘‘Everyone is in agreement and there is no political point-scoring; that would say to me if I was a worker that the people that they elect to get this thing fixed are working on fixing it and I’d be confident about that,’’ he said.