Point Henry: Alcoa Aluminium Smelter 500 Jobs at Stake

Alcoa will complete a formal review of the long running Point Henry aluminium smelter at Geelong in March, with the futures of over 500 workers under a cloud, according to The Australian.

The smelter has been rumoured for closure over the past few years, though has continued to operate with help from the government. That assistance came largely in the form of a $40 million injection from the Commonwealth less than two years ago, which required Alcoa to keep the smelter open until at least June this year.

Australian Workers Union national secretary Paul Howes told The Australian the union was fearful about the decision despite recent improvements at the facility.

“We are very concerned about the future generally of Australian aluminium but Point Henry in particular because it is under formal review," Mr Howes said, while noting the plant was performing “a lot better today than it was six months ago.”

If Point Henry were to close it would be another hit to the Victorian economy, which is already facing problems in the wake of the decisions by both Ford and Holden to shut local manufacturing operations in the coming years.