Fight to stop China steel use in $520 million Darwin Defence bases upgrade taken to Prime Minister Scott Morrison

THE campaign to see the structural steel for the $520 million Larrakeyah Barracks and HMAS Coonawarra refurbishment fabricated locally — rather than in China — has ramped up

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THE Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union campaign to see the structural steel for the $520 million Larrakeyah Barracks and HMAS Coonawarra refurbishment fabricated locally has gone to the next stage.

The AMWU has written to Prime Minister Scott Morrison requesting his intervention to direct the Department of Defence and its Managing Contractor, Laing O’Rourke, to use local steel and back local jobs.

The AMWU is yet to receive a formal response.

In the letter the AMWU said manufacturing workers have been listening and feeling encouraged by the Prime Minister’s commitments to rebuilding Australia’s manufacturing industry and ‘Australian Made’ as a key pillar of our COVID-19 recovery.

“I refer to reports in the NT News on Sunday, 7 June 2020 regarding the Larrakeyah, Barracks and HMAS Coonawarra refurbishment, and the decision from the Department of Defence to source structural steel from China,” the letter to the Prime Minister says.

“As you know, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on local manufacturing.

“In Darwin, we are seeing manufacturing workers stood down, on JobKeeper, and uncertain about their future with work pipelines drying up.

“We are seeking your intervention to ensure this steel is fabricated locally, helping create local jobs, and boosting the Territory’s and Australia’s COVID-19 recovery.

“We must all work together to ensure a strong, prosperous and viable manufacturing industry in Australia that leads our COVID-19 recovery.

“Right now, there is an opportunity to secure manufacturing jobs in Darwin and keep these jobs local – your intervention will ensure we do not squander this opportunity.”

AMWU Northern Territory organiser Lloyd Pumpa said he remains hopeful the Prime Minister will act to back local jobs.

“Every day that passes makes it harder and harder to fabricate this steel locally,” said Mr Pumpa.

“I appreciate the Prime Minister is dealing with the COVID-19 crisis, but inaction on this issue is not acceptable at a time when Darwin is crying out for jobs.

“Two weeks have passed since we wrote to Mr Morrison.

“Forward orders in local fabricators have collapsed. Why anyone would waste this opportunity to create local jobs is beyond me.”

Mr Pumpa questioned the Federal Government’s rhetoric around supporting local and Australia made products.

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“How can the Prime Minister talk about buying Australian Made when his own government won’t,” he said.

“Our petition has already gotten 300 signatures. If you care about local jobs and local industry, I urge you to sign it and share it with your family and friends.”