Written in blue pen at the end of a typed letter, they are the words federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has used to coax Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull into action to save Illawarra steelmaking. 

Mr Shorten met with Illawarra steel campaigners, Member for Cunningham Sharon Bird and Throsby MP Stephen Jones in Canberra on Thursday.

In a letter to the PM on Friday, seen by the Mercury, Mr Shorten said he shared campaigners’ concerns about the lack of federal government action. 

The immediate referral of issues relating to dumped sub-cost steel to the Anti-Dumping Commission, maximising the use of Australian steel in government-funded infrastructure projects and a guarantee the government won’t repeal or weaken the Australian Jobs Act are among the immediate actions the Opposition Leader says are needed.

Mr Shorten also called on the PM to reinstate the Illawarra’s employment coordinator, who would help retrenched workers retrain or find alternative employment.

“We believe it is very important for you, as Prime Minister, to take leadership on this matter,” he wrote. 

“No doubt you are aware that your counterpart in the United Kingdom, Prime Minister David Cameron, has in recent days taken leadership on the government’s response to difficulties in the UK steel industry.

“I believe that this matter needs the same level of leadership and urgent action.” 

The comment came after British Labour Opposition Leader Jeremy Corbyn put steel on the national agenda there. Mr Shorten told the Mercury a partnership between BlueScope Steel, its workforce and the government was the only way to address the region’s steel crisis.

“The workers have shown real leadership and agreed to make their contribution, sacrificing jobs, wages and conditions but we are yet to see anything from the Turnbull Liberal Government,” he said.  “Doing nothing is simply not an option.”

Ms Bird said Labor’s commitment was long-term.

“He [Mr Shorten] wants to see policies that are going to deliver for both the steel industry but also for the Illawarra region,” she said.  

Mr Jones said: “A clear message from government is what’s needed and, as the alternative government, we're offering that clear message”.