With concerns growing around the blast furnace at the Whyalla steelworks which has been out of action following an incident during a maintenance operation, Federal Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey has brought the situation to the National Parliament’s attention.
“I understand the consternation from the community, from trade suppliers and from workers and sub-contractors whose hours have been cut,” he said.
“Steel production is vital to the welfare of Whyalla and its residents with 1100 steelworkers dependent on the plant getting back to full production.
“Equally, Australia is dependent on Whyalla steel, which while suppling about 20% of the market is the only platform in Australia producing heavy long products. Whyalla is our only manufacturer of the structural steel for bridges, industrial complexes, docks and high quality rail.
“If nothing else, Covid and the current political tensions in our hemisphere have underlined the absolute necessity for Australia to maintain a sovereign capacity in a number of areas and steel is one of them.
“GFG has assured me it is committed to re-starting the blast furnace within a few weeks. Hopefully they can do so by the end of the month. I am not offering any unnecessary advice on how they should do that, they have access to any number of expert steel makers and I wish them all speed.
“However, the announcement the start-up date for new electric furnace has been pushed back by two years is unsettling for the community and reinforces the importance of getting the current furnace back online.
“The Treasurer talks about Australia’s rosy manufacturing future and green steel in Whyalla is part of that story, but if traditional steel does not continue in the near term in Whyalla, then green steel in the future will never get out of the starting blocks.
“I am not advocating the State or Federal Governments take precipitous action, but they both need to be paying very close attention to what is happening on the ground in Whyalla and work with GFG Alliance to ensure the future.”
Mr Ramsey said he has requested a meeting with Federal Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic to ensure he was well informed and to press the point that Whyalla steel is essential for not only Whyalla’s future, it is essential for Australia’s future.
Media contact: Leonie Lloyd-Smith 02 62774967
May 16 2024