The closure of the Port Kembla furnace will be a blow to the steel city of Wollongong, which for years has suffered as the manufacturing industry declined. Jordon Stojkovski and Cole Obenikovski both know how it feels to be let go by the big steel-maker.
Both had worked for BHP for 30 years, before Bluescope was spun off, and were made redundant in the past few years. They were both worried about the future of the region.
"I've got three kids and only my missus works now. I'm 54, but I'm worried for the future of my kids and my grandkids, " said Mr Stojokvski, who was made redundant with 300 other people and no longer works.
Mr Obenikovski, who had worked for the company for 30 years since he came from Macedonia, was made redundant in 2002. He then found work as a contractor but was laid off by them three years ago. "It's really sad. I've given my life to the Illawarra. I really don't see much future for the kids here," he said.
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union national secretary Dave Oliver, who has been calling for years for a manufacturing industry plan, contrasted Labor's current stance with the economic reform agenda of the 1980s.
"When we floated the dollar, when we took on reform, when we reduced our tariffs, we actually put together industry plans," he said.
"The government worked with the unions and the employers and came up with plans like the Button plans for the auto industry, the steel industry and shipbuilding.
"We need government intervention to guarantee that we've got a viable manufacturing industry in this country."
Australian Workers Union national secretary Paul Howes warned that Australian manufacturing faced one of its worst periods since the Great Depression.
"We are now facing a major crisis in Australian manufacturing," he said. "Base metal manufacturing, downstream manufacturing - everything is under pressure at the moment."
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