Labor Blocks Crucial Senate Inquiry Into Australia's Metals Manufacturing Industry

OPINION PIECE

The Albanese Labor Government has used its numbers in Parliament to block a proposed Senate Inquiry into the health and future of Australia’s metals manufacturing industry, without providing any explanation for the decision.

The Inquiry, moved by Nationals Senators Susan McDonald and Matt Canavan, was designed to investigate the looming crisis facing the sector, including key processing facilities Glencore’s Mount Isa and Townsville operations.

“These facilities underpin our local economies and are a vital part of Australia’s sovereign capability. Shutting them down would mean significant job losses and a massive blow to our national resilience,” Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox said.

The rejection of the Inquiry comes despite Labor’s own Industry and Innovation Minister, Senator Tim Ayres, recently admitting the Mount Isa closure represents a “very significant economic problem”.

With billions of taxpayers’ funds committed to Labor-designed programs such as the Future Made in Australia plan, the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility, the Critical Minerals Facility, and the National Reconstruction Fund, time will tell if these programs are tapped into to support these facilities and their workers.

“This government talks up a big game with its commitment to manufacturing, but when it’s time to act, they are nowhere to be seen,” said Mr Willcox.

“Workers, their families and our communities deserve answers and some certainty about their future. Blocking this inquiry sends the exact opposite message. When our metals manufacturing industry shuts down, countries like China and Indonesia fill the void.

“Labor’s decision to block this inquiry is deeply disappointing, but sadly it’s not surprising. For all their talk about building a ‘Future Made in Australia’, this is just more fluff and no substance,” Mr Willcox said.

Andrew Willcox

Shadow Assistant Minister for Manufacturing and Sovereign Capability

Member for Dawson

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