CRISIS IN MANUFACTURING UNDER GILLARD GOVERNMENT
22-August-2011
Today’s announcement by BlueScope of 1,000 steel workers jobs to be axed adds to the stockpile of misery of more than 105,000 manufacturing jobs that have been lost over the past 3 years.
At a time of predictions for even more misery in the manufacturing sector as companies enter financial reporting season, now is the worst possible thing at the worst possible time. Manufacturers are already under immense pressure with the high Australian dollar and difficult global economic conditions. This Labor’s Government’s insistence on introducing its new carbon tax in the face of these latest job losses just makes a bad situation even worse.
As the steel export market has been decimated, it is even more critical to ensure the domestic steel industry remains viable. A simple, first step would be to can the carbon tax. If Ms Gillard continues to listen to The Greens she will punish Australian steel and manufacturing, by giving a leg up to imports coming into Australia which will not have the carbon tax imposed on them.
Labor Members in critical manufacturing electorates who are presiding over job loss after job loss need to have the courage to stand up and give Ms Gillard an ultimatum; axe the carbon tax or we’ll cross the floor in support of Australian workers and industry.
It will take only one Labor member to stand up for industry and for Julia Gillard to finally face reality that Australian manufacturers and workers do not want a carbon tax.