It’s the question on everyone’s lips, as changes at the nation’s helm force the region’s steel industry campaigners back to Canberra.

Christopher Pyne, who previously had charge of the education portfolio, was sworn in as the new Federal Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science on Monday.

Mr Pyne’s appointment came two weeks to the day since former Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane met for crisis talks with key stakeholders in Wollongong on September 7.

At the time, Mr Macfarlane hinted at a “very big proposal” to secure the Illawarra’s economic future and that of the steelworks.

The then-Minister had been exploring options – including suggestions put to him at the meeting – since, but little information about the assistance has surfaced.

Mr Macfarlane’s office was contacted for comment, however a spokeswoman told the Mercury he was unavailable to speak on Monday. 

South Coast Labour Council secretary Arthur Rorris said restating the region’s case would still make a difference. Whether that is detrimental to ground already gained, “only time will tell”.

Mr Rorris said the expectation was Mr Pyne would move on the work already done by Mr Macfarlane.

“We will obviously be heading to Canberra again soon, when we can get a meeting with the new minister. Time is running out, so we do want to do that sooner rather than later,”  he said.

“Our priority will be to restate the case to him, to indicate to him that the clock is ticking and that we would like urgent action from the government.”

Organisers of Saturday’s Save Our Steel rally in the Crown Street Mall weren’t to know a leadership spill would unfold just days prior to the event. Mr Rorris said it was “very well-timed”.

“The ability to put pressure now is very important and we’ve certainly taken that opportunity,” he said. 

“We are pressing the right buttons here. The strategy has not changed but it obviously has developed.” 

The steel industry fight is a three-pronged approach – BlueScope and its cost-cutting, state and federal governments buying Australian-made steel and safeguarding the industry.