In the second of our 5 questions in 5 days, we asked our federal election candidates: What plan/s does your party have to ensure the viability of the steel industry into the future?
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Candidates had until 5pm on Monday to respond via email. Candidates who didn’t respond – Cunningham: Michelle Ryan (CDP); Whitlam: Susan Pinsuti (CDP), Marcus Hewitt (Liberal).
CUNNINGHAM
Cath Blakey (Greens)
The Greens support the unions’ call for public procurement of Australian made steel and have a bill before the NSW Parliament to put this into effect.
We call on the federal government to take similar measures. The best way our governments can protect the Illawarra’s manufacturing jobs, skills and technology is to use Australian-made steel when they fund new trains, bridges, buildings and renewable energy infrastructure (stadium rooves and UOW construction included!).
Bluescope has a fully costed plan for co-generation which will use the waste gases from the steelworks to make electricity, but won’t make the capital investment to make production cleaner unless there is longer term certainty in Australian production.
Sign the petition to support buying Australian made steel: www.illawarrasteel.org
Nathan Waters (Science)
Steel manufacturing is an incredibly important piece of the Illawarra's economic pie.
However, I believe government protectionism and bailouts for the struggling steel industry is not a long-term solution, but an election-cycle band-aid fix.
Ensuring 90% steel is used in federal infrastructure projects is great, but comprises a small percentage of the entire market, and is unlikely to make a significant long-term impact.
This doesn't mean the end of manufacturing in the Illawarra. There are plenty of more exciting, rapidly growing and lucrative endeavours within future manufacturing technology such as industrial robotics, 3D printing and nanomaterials.
Why hasn't BlueScope Steel established a fabrication lab or makerspace to facilitate the open exploration and development of such technologies together with the public, business, academic communities and current employees?
Michelle Blicavs (Liberal)
On 26 October 2015, BlueScope announced its decision to continue making steel at Port Kembla, saving some 4500 local jobs.
This was positive outcome for the company and the Illawarra region. The Government recognizes the important steps that BlueScope has taken with the unions and employees that has contributed to a more flexible and productive steel production at Port Kembla.
The Australian Government announced a $670,000 package of assistance measures, including an Illawarra Employment Facilitator, specifically targeted to connect retrenched BlueScope workers with a wide range of support services.
The Government will continue to work constructively with stakeholders regarding long-term economic development and jobs growth in the region. It is committed to fostering an environment where Australian businesses have an opportunity to bid for work on Australian projects and major Government procurement contracts.
The Government supports an open market economy as the best way to generate investment and employment. Although it does not believe that mandating levels of local content is an effective approach, the Government has taken significant action to support Australia’s steel sector, including:
- Using Australian steel across Australia’s naval shipbuilding program. This includes using local steel to build the Pacific Patrol Boats – the first fleet of naval vessels commissioned in Australia since 2007
- Strengthening Australia’s anti-dumping system
- Scrapping and Carbon Tax and exempting emissions intensive, trade exposed industries from the Renewable Energy Target
Michelle Ryan (CDP)
The Christian Democratic Party has a track record of supporting regional jobs.
At a state level, my colleagues in NSW Parliament have given their support for the Steel Industry Protection Bill, the object of which is to ensure that all steel used in public works or infrastructure constructed by public authorities is manufactured in Australia.
If elected, I will continue the fight at a federal level to ensure that this industry remains viable. The Illawarra urgently needs infrastructure upgrades.
Along with lobbying for these upgrades, I will put the pressure on for Aussie steel – our local steel – to be used.
Sharon Bird (Labor)
Labor’s Plan for Australian Metals Manufacturing and Jobs will ensure a strong future for Australia’s metal industries - one where we grow jobs instead of seeing them slip away as is happening on Malcolm Turnbull’s watch.
As part of our six point plan, Labor will seek to maximise the use of locally-produced steel in Federal Government funded projects, put in place regular reporting of usage levels and create a national Steel Supplier Advocate.
The South Australian Government appointed an advocate whose role was to make sure that contractors found the best local suppliers. By 2014-15 the proportion of contracts from state government procurement that went to local businesses had risen from 51 per cent in 2012-13 to 91 per cent.
Labor will also ensure Australian standards are upheld in Federal Government funded projects and support local producers meet certification standards, halve the thresholds for projects required to have an Australian Industry Participation Plans from $500 million down to $250 million for private projects, and from $20 million to $10 million for public projects; double funding for the Australian Industry Participation Authority and appoint an AIP Board and ensure Australia’s anti-dumping system has the right powers and penalties in place.
John Flanagan (Non-Custodial Parents Party)
Overseas countries do not think twice when it comes time to defend their local industries. They make it the law to use their domestic products and they do not apologise for it.
We need to put an immediate 10 per cent preference on the use of Australian steel on all Government contracts.
At the same time, we need to be realistic and further develop our own infrastructure for the future.
For example, Australia needs to provide water to our dry potential inland farm areas. This is by augmentation of existing dams on the coast and wastewater re-use.
Increased agriculture would mean greater exports through ports such as through Port Kembla Harbour.
WHITLAM
Tom Hunt (Greens)
Greens MP David Shoebridge introduced a Steel Industry Protection Bill into the NSW upper house in March this year aimed at providing certainty for the local steel industry.
He said “the cost of saving a few dollars by buying steel dumped on the Australian market by international companies is being paid by workers, their families and the communities who will all suffer if the domestic industry is allowed to fail.”
This bill to mandate the use of Australian steel in government projects has gained the support of all parties except the Liberal and National parties. They filibustered to delay a vote until after the election. The message seems to be that they're in favour of allowing the Australian steel industry to die.
The Greens are also pushing to take this proposal to the Federal Parliament.
Jan Mandelson (Nationals)
Supporting and promoting local jobs is a core goal of The National Party. I understand the threat of cheap offshore steel to our local industry, and we will continue to fight to ensure Australian Products, and Australian jobs come first.
As part of the Coalition Business Innovation Package, funds and support are available for businesses to evolve new products and new uses for their existing products. This will help solve the Australian Steel industries challenges.
Just throwing piles of money at an industry without changing and evolving that industry does not change the underlying problem, all we do is delay the end result.
Wayne Hartman (Non-Custodial Parents Party)
As per John Flanagan’s answer above:
Overseas countries do not think twice when it comes time to defend their local industries. They make it the law to use their domestic products and they do not apologise for it.
We need to put an immediate 10 per cent preference on the use of Australian steel on all Government contracts.
At the same time, we need to be realistic and further develop our own infrastructure for the future.
For example, Australia needs to provide water to our dry potential inland farm areas. This is by augmentation of existing dams on the coast and wastewater re-use.
Increased agriculture would mean greater exports through ports such as through Port Kembla Harbour.
Stephen Jones (Labor)
Only Labor has a plan to secure the future of the Australian steel industry.
We will start delivering our Plan for Australian Metals Manufacturing and Jobs within 100 days of taking office, starting with the establishment of the Metals Manufacturing Council.
We will ensure that Australian standards are upheld in federal Government funded projects so that safety and quality is never compromised.
Labor will also maximise the use of locally-produced steel in federal government funded projects such as the Melbourne Metro and Badgerys Creek rail connection.
In addition to this we will halve the thresholds for projects required to have an Australian Industry Participation Plan to double the number of opportunities for local businesses to participate in bids.
Labor will appoint an Australian Industry Participation Board, create a National Steel Supplier Advocate and ensure that our anti-dumping system is equipped with the right powers and penalties in place.
GILMORE
Steve Ryan (CDP)
The CDP recognises that the prosperity of our nation is reliant on the prosperity of our regional areas.
We are very concerned about the future of the local steel industry and are anxious to keep the government of the day accountable.
Protection is needed for our Australian domestic market.
CDP supports the introduction of a realistic trade barrier policy which will effectively protect our Australian domestic market from cheaper imports.
Ann Sudmalis (Liberal)
When the Turnbull Government announced plans to build 12 new submarines, it specified Australian steel had to be used in the construction.
The Coalition understands the concerns of the Illawarra and wider community about the future of steel production at Port Kembla and its impact on jobs, and recognises that the steel industry is an important contributor to the Illawarra and the national economy.
The Coalition is committed to having a strong anti-dumping system to ensure Australian business can compete on a level playing field.
The Coalition is committed to fostering an environment where Australian businesses have an opportunity to bid for work on Australian projects and major Government procurement contracts
Carmel McCallum (Greens)
The Greens have initiated the NSW Steel Industry Procurement Bill 2016 (which the Liberals and Nationals are rejecting), requesting the use of at least 90% of local steel in local and state government projects, including new road construction.
We would propose in the near future, a dual electrified train track all the way to Bomaderry, and across the Shoalhaven River, and in the long-term, eventually down the coast to the border, which will be essential for tourism and when oil becomes unaffordable.
The Greens also want the new bridge, including a railway line, across the river to be made of steel and to become known as an attractive icon.
The use of steel in the renewable energy, construction and other manufacturing industries, including defence support, will also provide employment opportunities for a region which has few new innovations for skilled and worthwhile work.
Fiona Phillips (Labor)
Labor’s six-point Plan for Australian Metals Manufacturing and Jobs to ensure a sustainable future for Australia’s steel industry which includes ensuring Australian standards are upheld in federally funded projects; maximising the use of locally produced steel in federal projects; requiring more projects to have Australian Industry Participation Plans for public-sector projects; doubling the funding for the Australian Industry Participation Authority and ensuring the anti-dumping system has the right powers and penalties in place.
Labor will also create a national Steel Supplier Advocate and a Metals Manufacturing Innovation Council bringing together representatives from industry, unions and government.