LABOR PARALYSED ON MANUFACTURING POLICY
29-August-2011
Julia Gillard had yet another meeting today with key unions and an industry group searching for solutions to Australia’s unfolding manufacturing crisis which predictably ended with no outcome.
Dave Oliver, head of the AMWU and Paul Howes, head of the AWU, today joined Heather Ridout, Chief Executive of the Ai Group insisting that the Labor Government conducts an urgent review into Australia’s flagging manufacturing sector.
Kim Carr announced as Shadow Industry Minister in 2007 that it is a matter of national urgency that we ensure that prosperity is sustained in Australian manufacturing. Since then they have lost over 105,000 jobs in manufacturing, with industry concerns being arrogantly dismissed in this period.
Today’s meeting is symbolic of an arrogant Government which has failed to properly consult with manufacturing stakeholders or to introduce meaningful policy or reform for almost four years.
This is a Government that has no answer to Mr Howes’ question on what happens when we reach the bottom of the quarry.
This is a Government that admits they are out of ideas to abate the manufacturing crisis.
And to make matters worse, this is a Government that still insists on implementing a job destroying, business demolishing, and confidence annihilating carbon tax at the worst possible time.
This is in addition to:
· Limp reform to the anti-dumping regime;
· Limiting R&D incentives to manufacturing;
· Slashing support for commercialisation;
· Breaking billions of dollars of promises; and
· Ignoring Government appointed industry advisory groups.
The Coalition has been listening to and working with industry and today Tony Abbott announced that an “industries for Australia’s future” policy review will be co-chaired by Sophie Mirabella and Ian Macfarlane.