2025-02-20
Joint Statement from Greens MPs Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Senator Barbara Pocock, Robert Simms MLC, Tammy Franks MLC
The Australian Greens back Federal and South Australian government intervention to retain our sovereign steel making capability and ensure its long term green future. Yesterday we backed the SA Government to step in and take control at Whyalla, to appoint an administrator, and to take steps to protect workers, contractors and the Whyalla community.
The Greens understand the need to defer the State Government’s green hydrogen plan given much of this project is predicated on the ongoing viability of the steelworks. It’s vital however that this investment by the State Government still achieves environmental outcomes and moves Whyalla towards a green future by supporting green industry.
It is essential to maintain sovereign steelmaking capacity in our country.
However, the handover of public funds – of at least $2.4 billion – to help assure this should result in an equity stake, not just an untied grant or subsidy to the private sector. The days of corporate welfare are over. Any investment in Whyalla needs to buy a stake in the operation on behalf of Australian taxpayers.
Having equity in this enterprise means that taxpayers effectively have a seat at the table which gives us insurance against this type of collapse happening again. It gives us the ability to assess the level of risk and ensure the future of steel making at Whyalla.
We also need immediate relief to protect workers and local contractors owed money.
In the longer term we need a sustainable green steel industry plan for the future. One that assures the supply of steel to so many significant infrastructure and construction projects across our country.
A government equity stake in Whyalla will protect the national interest and give us a seat at the decision making table about the future of this essential capability. With the right industry policy and investment we can deepen our manufacture of products like wind turbine towers that we currently import in large numbers from China. We can reduce our supply chain risks.
Investing in the Whyalla steelworks to protect an essential national industry, save jobs and transition to green steel is a no-brainer for federal and state governments. But this needs to be done in ways that protect our national interests into the long term, and build a secure and sustainable value chain for steel manufacturing in Australia.
Labor wants to ‘make more things here’ and the Greens welcome this. But we cannot achieve it by throwing money at private investors without creating a public stake - which is essential for long term production, jobs and an ongoing sovereign steel making industry in our nation.
With the right long term industry policy and investment strategy, we can save jobs and ensure a viable transition to green steel production at Whyalla that will be competitive with overseas markets like Europe. We have the resources and the green energy potential to become a world leader in this domain. We can’t afford to be left behind and as a nation we need to act accordingly. That means public equity in exchange for public investment in steel at Whyalla over the years to come.
The Greens back the Whyalla community to build a better future.