The Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) and our members across manufacturing welcome the $2 billion package to secure our domestic aluminium industry.
Today the federal government announce a new Green Aluminium Production Credit to support Australian aluminium smelters switching to reliable, renewable electricity before 2036.
The AMWU represents thousands of highly skilled and well-paid members working within aluminium smelting, and across all areas of its critical domestic supply chains.
Our members work across the mining, refining, logistics, smelting, and the downstream aluminium manufacturing industries.
A comprehensive plan to support our local industries to decarbonise has long been advocated for by the AMWU.
As the world begins the transition to manufacture green metals, and with carbon border markets adjustments being introduced as a condition of global trade, the Albanese government has fired the starter’s gun to make sure Australia is in the race for the jobs of the future.
The biggest risk to the future of our energy intensive local industries is the source and price of electricity.
Shifting to low cost, zero emissions electricity is Australia’s natural competitive advantage – to compete on the lowest possible energy costs, rather than lowest possible wages.
Quotes attributable to AMWU National Secretary Steve Murphy:
“Our members working at Tomago Aluminium have heard firsthand today that the federal government is committed to securing the long-term future of their jobs and their industry.”
“All of the four large smelting plants we have around the country now have a strong, secure future. This announcement shifts the national conversation from ‘if’ we make things here, to ‘how’ we will make things here. We will be manufacturing world leading green aluminium in Australia.”
“In stark contrast to previous Liberal governments, who dared Holden to leave, this package bolts down the industries and the highly paid jobs we have.”
“When public money is being used to support industry, we all expect it to deliver a better social outcome. This is money well spent.”
“When we secure an industry that provides tens of thousands of highly paid local jobs, we shift our economy faster to decarbonise and drive down our energy costs, and we lock in a strong future for Australian manufacturing.”
“This package puts the wind back in the sails of our local aluminium industry. But it’s also a boost in our confidence that blue collar workers will not be paying the price for the economic energy transition we are facing.”
“As workers in our coal-fired power stations face closure dates of their current jobs, we expect that further announcements will be coming to guarantee opening dates for the factories where we will be building and manufacturing our future energy needs in our regions, made from Australian iron, steel and aluminium.”
“We can and should be making all our renewable energy infrastructure here – wind towers, solar panels, hydrogen, batteries, cables, and transmission towers. This should be a highly paid, highly skilled jobs bonanza.”
“The workers who have powered our economy and our homes for generations deserve to experience justice in this energy transition. That’s what is missing from this transition – justice for the workers.”
Media contact: Sonia Feng 0478 599 580