How new minister Tim Ayres will protect Australian steel from Donald Trump’s tariff war

Protecting Australian jobs is not enough for union secretary turned minister Tim Ayres. Now he’s focused on defending Australian steel against Donald Trump.

Just weeks after being elevated to Anthony Albanese’s cabinet as Industry Science and Innovation Minister, Tim Ayres is standing in a steel factory for his first interview in the new role.

This deliberate decision is designed to send a message to local steel manufacturers, and to Donald Trump: Australian steel will be just fine.

The US President last week announced he will double tariffs on steel and aluminium coming into his country to 50 per cent.

Australia sends a small percentage of domestic steel to the US but the tariffs — described by Trade Minister Don Farell as “not the act of a friend” — will increase already tough competition from cheap Chinese and Vietnamese steel for Australian manufacturers.

New Industry and Science Minister Tim Ayres at Oxycut steel manufacturing in Smithfield. Picture: Thomas Lisson

“I do want to send a clear message of confidence in what Australian engineering and Australian manufacturing can do,” Mr Ayres told The Saturday Telegraph.

“We got the message very clearly at the beginning of the term that part of the response to Australia’s challenges in the China relationship … the big message to Australia is to diversify our industry.

“The American tariffs really just reinforce the urgency of us getting on with the job of working with the industry to build more factories, build more capabilities.”

The NSW Senator, who rose through the ranks of the union movement to become the state secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union before joining parliament is passionate about a manufacturing renaissance in Australia.

Tim Ayres and Oxycut Group General Manager Simon Preston discuss challenges in manufacturing. Picture: Thomas Lisson

It’s a vision not too dissimilar to the Trump administration, in fact, where Vice President JD Vance’s first-hand experience of growing up in a community where jobs went offshore has shaped the nation’s new protectionist strategy.

“I saw over 25 years in manufacturing, representing blue collar workers, what happened to communities, particularly regional communities, when good jobs went offshore,” Mr Ayres said.

“In particular, you know the impact of the last Liberal government in NSW, sending train manufacturing offshore.

“I saw how much people hurt.”

But he acknowledges there will be challenges.

Last week, The Telegraph revealed the NSW Labor government’s plans for its own manufacturing boom hit a speed bump when buses promised to be made in NSW were made in China instead.

Mr Ayres said migration would play a part in supporting the manufacturing workforce but it was crucial to train homegrown talent.

“Migration is definitely part of the answer, but the first thing we have to do is train young Australians in engineering and the skilled trades to be able to do this work.”

Speaking to The Telegraph from Precision Oxycut in Smithfield, a company that supplies steel to make wind turbines for wind farms, Mr Ayres said prioritising local manufacturing in Australia’s energy transition would be one of his top priorities in the new job.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced $500m in February to help Australian manufacturers scale up to join the energy transition.

But Mr Ayres said the steel industry would be a key part of that transition.

“I want to make sure that Australian steel manufactured in facilities like this (are used) in Australian wind towers but I also want the private sector to get the message too,” he said.

Mr Ayres did not weigh into how he would do things differently to his predecessor, Chifley MP Ed Husic who was dumped from his portfolio by Labor Right in a brutal factional brawl just days after the election.

“I’m absolutely seized by the opportunity that the caucus and the Prime Minister have given me and I see that as an enormous responsibility … it’s head down, bum up, getting things done.”

Originally published as How new minister Tim Ayres will protect Australian steel from Donald Trump’s tariff war