The manufacturing states of Victoria, NSW and South Australia will target the Abbott government as a bloc to argue the economic case for keeping local shipyards open with Australian workers to build the next generation of our naval warfare capabilities.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced the three-state approach yesterday after The Australian revealed the first wave of more than 1400 shipbuilding job losses would begin this month at BAE Systems Australia’s Williamstown yard.
The Williamstown yard, in Melbourne’s west, and Forgacs in Newcastle are likely to close within the year following the federal government’s decision to build two new navy supply ships overseas instead of locally, leaving no naval shipbuilding work in the pipeline for Australian workers. Mr Andrews said any notional savings from buying foreign submarines and ships would be wiped out by the lifetime cost of maintaining them and paying unemployment benefits to Australian shipwrights
“This is a folly and it’s a fool’s errand to think that you can send this work offshore and not pay a price for it over the life of those assets,” he said. “These are strategic industries, they’re worth fighting for and the three big defence manufacturing states — NSW, Victoria and South Australia — will work together to make the case in as compelling terms as we can to Tony Abbott.
“My message is very simple to Mr Abbott: now is the time to place an order. Place an order, save these jobs.” Mr Andrews, who campaigned with South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill during the Victorian election, said he had spoken to NSW Premier Mike Baird about the joint approach.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced the three-state approach yesterday after The Australian revealed the first wave of more than 1400 shipbuilding job losses would begin this month at BAE Systems Australia’s Williamstown yard.
The Williamstown yard, in Melbourne’s west, and Forgacs in Newcastle are likely to close within the year following the federal government’s decision to build two new navy supply ships overseas instead of locally, leaving no naval shipbuilding work in the pipeline for Australian workers. Mr Andrews said any notional savings from buying foreign submarines and ships would be wiped out by the lifetime cost of maintaining them and paying unemployment benefits to Australian shipwrights
“This is a folly and it’s a fool’s errand to think that you can send this work offshore and not pay a price for it over the life of those assets,” he said. “These are strategic industries, they’re worth fighting for and the three big defence manufacturing states — NSW, Victoria and South Australia — will work together to make the case in as compelling terms as we can to Tony Abbott.
“My message is very simple to Mr Abbott: now is the time to place an order. Place an order, save these jobs.” Mr Andrews, who campaigned with South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill during the Victorian election, said he had spoken to NSW Premier Mike Baird about the joint approach.
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