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August 30th, 2011 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda
Posted
Source: The World Today
|
Duration: 4min 49sec
Topics:
manufacturing,
australia
Transcript
TANYA NOLAN: The debate inside the Labor Party over manufacturing has flared again.
The Prime Minister Julia Gillard travelled to the Illawarra this morning to meet workers from BlueScope steel, which recently announced it would sack 1400 staff.
Ms Gillard said she had a good discussion with the workers, but she may’ve got a frostier reception from the unions which represent them.
The Prime Minister has shot down their proposal for an inquiry into the manufacturing sector, despite giving them the impression yesterday she was open to the idea.
That’s angered one Labor Senator, who’s labelled it a “dumb” decision.
Stephen Dziedzic reports from Canberra.
STEPHEN DZIEDZIC: Julia Gillard has been deep in manufacturing territory this morning, meeting workers at BlueScope’s steel mill near Wollongong.
More than 1000 of the workers are facing redundancy, and unions say the rest are fearful their jobs will go too.
The secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, Dave Oliver, says the workers were frank when they met the Prime Minister.
DAVE OLIVER: The very clear message that came out of the meeting for the Prime Minister was that the workers are keen to see what the Government can do to get more work into the steel plant down here. We have a viable operation and we want to see it grow and prosper.
STEPHEN DZIEDZIC: The Government’s already offered more than $100 million to help BlueScope workers find new jobs and to help the company restructure.
But unions want tougher action, including new regulations that would force all mining projects to say how much Australian made material they are using.
Yesterday union leaders met the Prime Minister in Canberra to demand an inquiry into the sector. They said she was “receptive” to the idea – but this morning several Government ministers poured cold water on it.
The Industry Minister Kim Carr says the Government’s got other priorities.
KIM CARR: There is a common objective of ensuring we have a prosperous manufacturing sector in this country, that we have the wherewithal to ensure we have a balanced economy and that we’ve provided high skilled, high waged jobs.
At no point have we said that an inquiry is the best way to ensure that that happens. What we’re in the business of doing is acting, not having another inquiry.
STEPHEN DZIEDZIC: The Workplace Relations Minister Chris Evans says the Government wants to concentrate on practical measures to help manufacturing.
CHRIS EVANS: She’s actually focused on what we can do to assist those industries under pressure and I suppose you know all an inquiry does is delay those sorts of responses.
STEPHEN DZIEDZIC: That surprised the national secretary of the Australian Workers Union, Paul Howes, who left yesterday’s meeting convinced the Government was considering the proposal.
PAUL HOWES: Well in yesterday’s meeting, which myself and Dave and Heather Ridout from the AI group were at, the Prime Minister made it very clear to us that she was open to looking into some type of future inquiry into the future of the manufacturing industry.
The words that were said by various government ministers this morning was a surprise to me.
STEPHEN DZIEDZIC: The Labor Senator Doug Cameron has lashed out at the decision.
DOUG CAMERON: I think rejecting the quest by the unions and industry for an inquiry is premature, I think it’s economically irresponsible, and politically dumb. I just think it’s absolutely essential that we don’t treat workers as collateral damage in the economic transformation of the economy and the Government’s got a responsibility to maximise manufacturing jobs and I will move at the next caucus for the inquiry to take place.
STEPHEN DZIEDZIC: And the Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says the Government’s response has been confused.
TONY ABBOTT: Look I really don’t know what’s happening with this Government, it just seems to go from bad to worse. They obviously told senior union officials yesterday that they were going to have an inquiry and then after I announced the Coalition’s policy review process they got cold feet.
Now this is a Government which doesn’t know its own mind and a Government which doesn’t know its own mind can’t be trusted with the future of our country.
STEPHEN DZIEDZIC: Ms Gillard says the unions misunderstood her.
JULIA GILLARD: I can certainly clear this up for you. I met with representatives of manufacturing yesterday, including employer representatives and union representatives. It’s possible for people to take some different takes out of a conversation.
My focus is on action, I don’t want to be held back from acting by an inquiry which would inevitably take some time. Now that doesn’t mean that we won’t take the best of expert advice along the way, but I don’t want to be held up from acting by an inquiry.
STEPHEN DZIEDZIC: She’s also brushed off Senator Cameron’s criticisms.
JULIA GILLARD: Look people will make their own comments. I’m sure Doug would also agree with the proposition that we don’t want to be held up by having an inquiry.
STEPHEN DZIEDZIC: And she’s made another modest announcement – saying the Government’s asked the vice chancellor of Wollongong University, Professor Gerard Sutton, to work as an advocate for the region.
TANYA NOLAN: Stephen Dziedzic reporting from Canberra.
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