SMH 07 Oct 2011
Wrapping up the one-day jobs summit in Canberra yesterday, the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, announced the changes after weeks of pressure from unions, industry groups and manufacturers. ''If you want Australian taxpayers' dollars then you're going to have to give Australian businesses a fair chance to compete for work,'' she said.
Under the changes, resource companies will lose access to a 5 per cent tariff reduction on imported materials for projects worth $2 billion or more, unless they provide a level playing field.
At present, on such projects the companies have to provide Australian industry participation plans, which are supposed to detail how local industry can compete for work and how much local product will be used. In return, they receive the tariff cut.
The steel industry and unions have complained about being locked out of bidding for work because of deals with cheaper Chinese suppliers, or through tenders for goods built to Chinese specifications.
Now, participation plans will have to be more detailed on the opportunities for Australian companies, will be more vigorously monitored and will be publicly available on a website.
''There's no point having rules unless people can each and every day clearly and transparently see that they are being abided by,'' Ms Gillard said.
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