Labor's Treasury spokesman Jim Chalmers, Climate and Energy spokesman Chris Bowen and Industry shadow minister Ed Husic visited the Port Kembla steelworks, along with Illawarra MPs Sharon Bird and Stephen Jones.

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The Labor team was in the Illawarra to talk to BlueScope executives as well as officials from the Australian Workers' Union.

Pointing out that the steelmaker was going through some "good times" at the moment, Mr Jones said there were ups and downs in the steel industry.

"Labor is committed to ensuring that we still have a steel industry in Australia and a steelworks in Port Kembla employing thousands of locals in good jobs well into the future," Mr Jones said.

Industry spokesman Mr Husic said the country needed to be thinking about procurement and "supporting Aussie jobs" but could not give a commitment that Labor would set mandatory minimums on the use of Australian steel.

"We want to look at the use of procurement in ways that can support Australian manufacturing and that is part of our process right now," he said.

"I would love to be able to make the announcement [about mandatory minimums] but I have to work with the shadow Finance Minister, who has the overall control of procurement policy.

"These are conversations that we have had in the opposition and are having in the opposition."

Mr Bowen spoke about BlueScope's moves to reduce carbon emissions and what was needed from government as the country's move to a renewable economy continued.

"I see this as very much, not only with BlueScope but across the board with Australian industry, a partnership between government and industry to ensure that these heavy industries, these trade-exposed industries can meet their obligation to reach net zero as soon as possible," he said.

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