SOPHIE HOSTS MANUFACTURING FORUM IN WANGARATTA
04-May-2011
Local Federal Member and Shadow Minister for Industry, Sophie Mirabella MP has hosted a local manufacturing forum in Wangaratta to discuss the current challenges facing manufacturers in our region.
The forum was attended by over 20 manufacturing leaders from across the region as well as Local Government representatives from the Rural City of Wangaratta.
Discussion focused around the Federal Government’s proposed Carbon Tax, difficulties with Government procurement policy and the problem of the high Australian Dollar.
Speaking after the forum, Mrs Mirabella said that Australian manufacturing is at a cross-road.
“Manufacturing is critical to our local economy. It is the second largest employment sector in the Wangaratta region, directly employing more than 14% of the total workforce and supporting thousands of other jobs. Unfortunately, more than 90,000 jobs have been lost in Manufacturing across Australia in the last three years alone, and if the Government doesn’t get serious about supporting the industry, we could lose vital capabilities forever,” said Mrs Mirabella.
“The people I spoke with today had a very clear message; they are frustrated by contradictory government policy which is making a difficult situation even worse.”
Clyde Hawkins from Fitweld Engineering Ltd. called for a rethink of Government procurement policies and a renewed focus on buying local products. “The current Government doesn’t seem to be interested in buying Australian goods anymore. They are happy to put thousands of jobs at risk just to save a couple of bucks on overseas products,” said Mr Hawkins.
Mrs Mirabella said some great suggestions were made, including taking into consideration the costs to business imposed by Australian Governments when choosing between domestic and foreign tenders.
She also summarised Julia Gillard’s proposed Carbon Tax.
“This tax has absolutely no friends because it’s plainly bad policy. It won’t do anything for the environment, the only thing it will do is send local jobs off shore and hit families with extra costs. The best thing Ms Gillard could do for the manufacturing industry is to drop this bad tax.”
Mrs Mirabella will hold quarterly manufacturing forums in Wangaratta to hear from local manufacturers. If you are interested in attending the event, please contact the office of Sophie Mirabella MP on 03 5721 5311.