MAY 11, 2021 – The Morrison Government’s Budget has failed manufacturing workers, delivering no significant spending or investment in our manufacturing sector say the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU).
This Budget has failed to deliver any new investment in safe, secure, highly skilled, and fairly paid manufacturing jobs. The government is yet to announce any spending as part of its’ Manufacturing Modernisation Initiative announced last year.
Of developed countries, Australia has spent the least during the COVID-19 recovery on greening our economy. Manufacturing workers suffer as a result of the Morrison Government’s obsession with its gas exporting donors meaning it will lock in high-cost, high carbon energy for decades, say the AMWU.
The Morrison Government is asleep at the wheel - continuing its’ record of wilfully neglecting manufacturing jobs in renewables and emerging industries – like those at wind tower manufacturer Keppel Prince.
While some Australian states have supported local industry with ‘buy local’ clauses in all major spending, the Morrison Government refuses to follow their lead, like locking out Keppel Prince workers from manufacturing the wind towers that will supply power to Snowy Hydro 2.0.
Quotes attributable to Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) national secretary Steve Murphy:
“Again, the Morrison Government is failing manufacturing workers - the billions spent as part of our recovery from COVID-19 could have been used to set Australia up as a low-cost, low carbon place to make things.
“This could have been an opportunity to re-industrialise our economy, provide good quality jobs and secure our place as a world leader in renewable-powered manufacturing.
“While other countries are joining the race to secure jobs in existing and emerging manufacturing industries in the global supply chain, Australia is trailing the pack.
“We’ve seen a Morrison Government that insists on locking out manufacturing workers. Keppel Prince manufacturing workers have been willfully ignored as taxpayers’ money continues to flow to other countries when Australian manufacturers are crying out for more support."