- Published:
- Wednesday 6 April 2016
Treasurer Tim Pallas and Minister for Industry Lily D’Ambrosio have called on the Turnbull Government to increase its efforts to secure the future of troubled steel producer, Arrium.
Mr Pallas backed the call of the South Australian government, urging the federal government to sit down with the states and the company as soon as possible to support the thousands of jobs that are at risk.
Ms D’Ambrosio restated her push towards a more effective ‘buy Australian’ policy to expand local industry and support local jobs, which the COAG Industry Council is investigating at Victoria's request.
The Andrews Labor Government continues to back the local steel industry, with the removal of 50 of Melbourne’s most dangerous and congested level crossings using 100 per cent Australian steel.
Arrium, which is currently in an ASX trading halt pending a further announcement, employs approximately 5,000 staff nationally.
This includes 900 staff in Victoria, in Laverton North, Scoresby, Lyndhurst, Port Melbourne and Geelong.
Quotes attributable to Treasurer Tim Pallas
“We urge the federal government to act immediately and get behind the local steel industry.”
“There are thousands of jobs at stake here and we cannot let the federal government sit idly by as it did with the automotive industry.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Industry Lily D’Ambrosio
“We call on the federal government to adopt the local content proposal that we have put forward, which will support local industry and local jobs.”