The Greens have used the workers’ vote to help keep the Port Kembla steelworks open and the release of a steel report to leverage their push for government procurement frameworks.
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“The reality is the steelworkers have done the hard yards, they've shown they're willing to sacrifice in order to keep the steel mills alive.” Greens NSW MP John Kaye told the Mercury.
“It's time for the NSW Government to do the same thing, to put some effort in.
“The very least they could do is follow the BIS Shrapnel report and make sure that ... the infrastructure projects have 90 per cent of the steel that comes from Australian steel mills.”
On Thursday, the Mercury revealed a BIS Shrapnel report, commissioned by the Australian Workers Union, had found buying Australian steel would end up substantially cheaper for governments than the cost of doing nothing.
The report recommends a minimum of 85 to 90 per cent Australian steel be used in all government products.
Dr Kaye said the BIS Shrapnel report, “blasts a hole through Kiama MP Gareth Ward's excuse for the Baird Government's inaction on procurement”.
“A legislated requirement for Australian-made steel to be used in all state and federal government infrastructure would more than save the Port Kembla blast furnace,” he said.
“Mr Ward and his Premier should drop their excuses and get on board with community calls for taxpayers' dollars to be spent on supporting steel jobs in Australia.
“The absence of any support from the Baird government shows their comprehensive lack of concern for the future of Port Kembla and the region. Reassuring words don't save jobs.”
Mr Ward hit back at Dr Kaye’s claims, saying they were “simply not true”.
“The union movement indicated that it would like to see a 50 per cent mandate for Australian steel used in local infrastructure projects,” he said.
“In the Gerringong bypass upgrade … 62 per cent of the steel is Australian steel, at Berry it’s 54 per cent.
“To say we have not done that is not only wrong, it’s a lie.”
Dr Kaye said the NSW Greens would put together its own bill to implement the procurement recommendations outlined in the report.
It is anticipated the legislation will be put before the NSW Parliament next month.
Meanwhile, Shellharbour MP Anna Watson said the release of the report was “an important and timely contribution” to the debate on overhauling government procurement policy.
“I'll certainly be making the Premier and Minister for Industry Anthony Roberts aware of the BIS Shrapnel report,” she said.
