Gilmore votes: Labor’s Fiona Phillips slams Andrew Constance for offshore manufacturing

Gilmore MP Fiona Phillips has called out Andrew Constance for “sending manufacturing jobs overseas” while he was in the NSW cabinet, but was uncertain how many would be created in Gilmore under Labor.

Gilmore MP Fiona Phillips met with members of the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union, including secretary Cory Wright, in Nowra on Thursday to slam her Liberal rival’s record at outsourcing major manufacturing projects.

Mrs Phillips pointed to a report from The McKell Institute stating Andrew Constance’s decisions as the NSW Treasurer and then Transport Minister.

When in the state cabinet, Mr Constance oversaw the procurement of trains for the Intercity Fleet and Sydney Metro which cost more than 7000 Australian jobs – including 600 in the Illawarra-South Coast region.

The Intercity Fleet, which was outsourced to South Korea despite an Australian bid being put forward, was expected to be fully operational by this year, however, a majority of the 21 trains are yet to reach these shores due to safety concerns over them not fitting on the track.

“We need to make things in Australia again,” Mrs Phillips said.

“Instead of sending good jobs in train manufacturing overseas, our National Rail Manufacturing Plan will mean that more trains are built in Australia by local manufacturing workers.

“We have a plan to build more trains and public transport infrastructure right here and we’ll also grow our fantastic defence manufacturing industry right here in Gilmore through our Defence Industry Development Strategy, which will maximise local content.”

Gilmore MP @fiboydphillips was joined by @theamwu members to lambast @AndrewConstance’s record at sending manufacturing jobs offshore.

Constance called it a personal attack and said his work as NSW Treasurer and then Transport Minister created 130,000 jobs in the state. #auspolpic.twitter.com/jZq77B5XdP

— Dylan Arvela (@dylanarvela) May 12, 2022

Mrs Phillips couldn’t put a figure on how many jobs would be generated in Gilmore from Labor’s manufacturing plan, however, she said it would “create a lot of jobs”.

The Labor MP, who is fighting her first re-election campaign said her party’s commitment to “make things here locally” would have flow-on effects for the Illawarra steelworks.

“We have a Buy Australian Plan and we have absolutely got a commitment to make things here locally,” Mrs Phillips said.

“That means more Australian content, so whether it’s in steel, whether it’s in defence, whether it’s in rail, we absolutely support that.

“We should be making more products here and that means supporting local business and Australian made.”

Gilmore MP Fiona Phillips with Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union members Shaun Goss, Cory Wright (secretary), Brett Huybers and David Norris in Nowra. Picture: Dylan Arvela

Mrs Phillips was asked why she was joined by workers from Newcastle given her past criticisms of Prime Minister Scott Morrison “flying in and out” of Gilmore which led to union member David Norris retorting that they were there to fight for their industry.

“There’s 600 jobs here, 50 jobs [somewhere else] and that’s a lot more apprentices, that’s why we came down,” Mr Norris said.

“Whatever parts we can’t make we will sub out to other parts of Australia and not overseas.”

Mr Constance was at a pre-poll station in Nowra only a few hundred metres away from the press conference and he stood by his record, stating it led to 130,000 jobs being generated in NSW.

He also accused Mrs Phillips of personally attacking him and defended the delays in getting the Intercity Fleet up and running.

Signs around the pre-poll centre in Nowra during the Andrew Constance’s “positive election campaign”. Picture: Dylan Arvela

“This is a positive election campaign for the people of Gilmore, it’s not about Fiona, it’s not about me, it’s not about union games,” he said.

“I think these personal attacks have gone on enough now and I think get on with the job and it’s about the community.

“[The Intercity Fleet] is going to service the Illawarra and this region and that decision to make that wide train was deliberate, it was so you could put a disability toilet, an all accessible toilet onto that train – the first in the state’s history.

“I make no apologies for doing that. Labor can run that scare campaign… I am finding it a little bit sick that that is their argument because people with disabilities will benefit from the Inner City Fleet once it’s running.”