The management of steel maker BlueScope paid more than $3 million in executive bonuses while sacking 1000 workers.
Senator Doug Cameron said the management's attitude was ''immoral, reprehensible and unacceptable''.
Senator Cameron said it was ''absolutely unbelievable'' that huge bonuses were paid while workers were being laid off.
BlueScope - Australia's biggest steel maker - this week announced 1000 workers and up to 400 contractors would go in Victoria and New South Wales; the company had a loss of more than $1 billion.
AWU Secretary Paul Howes said: ''I'm literally speechless.'' He said his union's members were furious and the shareholders had every right to be outraged.
''During the global financial crisis the company imposed a pay freeze.
''It's now saying this is worse than the GFC. There should be a pay freeze on executive salaries,'' he said.
Senator Xenophon said the company's operating cash flow was only $21 million last year, so 15 per cent had gone in executive salaries.
Describing the bonuses as ''obscene'', Senator Xenophon said the government should reduce its $100 million support for BlueScope by at least the $3,052,000 paid in bonuses.
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