Motion: Port Kembla Steel Industry

Senator RHIANNON (New South Wales) (15:44):I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 813, standing in my name for today, relating to Australian made steel.

Leave granted.

Senator RHIANNON:

I move the motion as amended:

That the Senate-

(a) notes that:

(i) more than 10 000 jobs are directly dependent on BlueScope Steel's operations in Port Kembla,

(ii) over 20 per cent of young people in the Wollongong region between 15 and 24 years of age are unemployed, and many more are under employed,

(iii) the Port Kembla steel works have been the backbone of the Illawarra economy for more than 80 years, and

(iv) the 'New Steel Deal' proposed by the South Coast Labour Council and the Australian Workers' Union Port Kembla, and supported by many other stakeholders in the Illawarra, includes a public procurement framework mandating at least 50 per cent of Australian made steel in all federal and state infrastructure projects; and

(b) calls on the Government to consider policy options, such as the New Steel Deal, and to commence discussions on the future of the Port Kembla steelworks with unions, BlueScope Steel management, the New South Wales State Government and other relevant stakeholders with a view to saving the steel industry in Port Kembla.

Question agreed to