Industry and unions in Western Australia have today welcomed the announcement of a 10,000 ton manufacturing contract from Chevrons Gorgon Project being awarded to local engineering and fabrication firm Civmec.
 
AMWU State Secretary Steve McCartney welcomed the project saying that it was another victory for the joint industry and union WA Jobs from WA Resources campaign.
 
"We have no doubt that this contract has been awarded due to pressure from the public and from unions and industry working together to ensure that we start to receive more benefits from the resources boom," Mr McCartney said.
 
Australian Steel Institute WA Manager James England said that, while the contract was very welcome, the Barnett Government should back Labor’s Skilled Local Jobs Bill, which would provide a long term solution for the steel industry.
 
"Six months ago, the big resources projects were sending all of their steel contracts offshore, so the recent awarding of contracts to local suppliers is very welcome, but the lack of transparency in the project approvals process is still a major disincentive to investment.” he said.
 
“However, local fabricators have only started receiving steel contracts from Gorgon since we started publicly campaigning for better outcomes from project proponents and the State Government. More needs to be done to support small & medium firms through increasingly difficult times.
 
"If we want a long term future for the steel industry and for local workers and apprentices, without having to continually campaign, we need a long term policy solution which provides measurable goals for improvement and a transparent process.
 
"I call on the Barnett Government to put politics aside and support Labor's Skilled Local Jobs Bill, which would provide a long term framework for securing more engineering and fabrication work for WA industry."