The federal government has “done absolutely nothing” to save the Port Kembla steelworks, said South Coast Labour Council Secretary Arthur Rorris.
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Mr Rorris is part of a Save Our Steel delegation in Canberra to lobby politicians ahead of BlueScope CEO Paul O’Malley's recommendation to the board on Port Kembla’s future, which is expected this week.
The delegation met with advisors from Industry Minister Christopher Pyne on Wednesday afternoon.
This federal government does not have a plan, or an intention of a plan at this stage, to save and support our steel industry.
- ARTHUR RORRIS
Mr Pyne was not present at the meeting.
Mr Rorris said the meeting left him with a clear message of the government’s intentions towards Port Kembla.
“We put it to them to tell us their ideas, what’s their plan – they’re the government,” Mr Rorris said.
“There was none, there is none. We’re facing the reality now that this federal government does not have a plan, or an intention of a plan at this stage, to save and support our steel industry and Australian jobs.”
Mr Rorris suggested the federal government was waiting for BlueScope to decide its own fate.
“In terms of the steel industry it’s telling us they have done absolutely nothing, quite literally, and they are waiting for BlueScope’s decision so they can put their hands up and say ‘oh, the decision’s made’,” he said.
But Mr Rorris said the government would not be allowed to “get away with it” that easily.
A spokesman for Mr Pyne said they were treating the BlueScope situation “very seriously”.
“The Commonwealth has continuously been working with the NSW State government and BlueScope Steel to work through relevant matters,” the spokesman said.
He also said the response of British Prime Minister David Cameron to their steel crisis did not put pressure on the Australian government to act
“While we operate in a global market, matters that impact on the UK market place are a matter for Prime Minister Cameron and his government,” the spokesman said.