Steel Boss Blasts FTA with China

Date: 16 July 2006

Comments in this Weekend's Australian newspaper attributed to Bluescope Steel boss Kirby Adams, blasting the Federal Government's stance on a proposed Free Trade Agreement with China have been welcomed by the South Coast Labour Council.

Mr Adams, President of Bluescope Steel, the largest metals manufacturer in Australia, described the Federal Government's stance as "naive" and said, "We are caught up in ideology, in the fantasy that we can lead the world to a free trade 'nirvana' by unilaterally dropping our tariffs to zero while the rest of the world laughs at us".

South Coast Labour Council Secretary, Arthur Rorris, said,

"There hasn't been too many things that we have agreed on with Bluescope bosses of late, but they have got this one right, there is no level playing field here."

"What are the benefits of the FTA with China if the casualties are likely to be tens of thousands of Australian jobs?

"The statements by Kirby Adams are very significant in that they come from a major industry player employing directly and indirectly in related industry tens of thousands of Australian workers"

"The Illawarra region is still heavily dependent on steel and related industry as demonstrated recently with the announcement by Bluescope of the closure of its tin mill plant resulting in the loss of hundreds of local jobs.

"The statements by Kirby Adams are well timed as the South Coast Labour Council is preparing for a Summit on the future of steel and related industry in the Illawarra region.

For further information

Contact:	Arthur Rorris
Union:	South Coast Labour Council
Phone:	(02) 4229 2888
Contact Mobile:	0409 223029

LaborNET is proudly created, designed and programmed
by Social Change Online for the Labor Council of NSW
[Credits] [Site Matters]