AUSTRALIAN MANUFACTURING COPS DOUBLE BLOW

01-March-2013

Australian manufacturing suffered a double blow today as news that the iconic food maker Rosella was set to shut down coincided with the release of data showing the sector has suffered its twelfth straight month of negative growth.

Shadow Industry Minister, Sophie Mirabella, said that the horror day is further evidence that the manufacturing crisis is deepening.

“This is terrible news for the families who will be impacted by the closure of such an iconic Australian business,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“The fact that this closure coincides with news that Australian manufacturing has suffered its twelfth straight month of contraction is of serious concern.

“Australian manufacturers are already under serious pressure from a range of factors, yet the Prime Minister seems intent on slugging them with new taxes and more regulation.

“Now is the worst possible time for Labor to impose the world’s biggest carbon tax on an already challenging environment for manufacturing.

“Only the Coalition has a plan for the future of our manufacturing sector. Only the Coalition has a proven record of economic management and reducing red-tape.

“We will get rid of the added cost of the carbon tax and get Australian industry back on track,” Mrs Mirabella concluded.