Senator Kim Carr

Today marks the end of 17 months of uncertainty for the Whyalla community as ownership of the steelworks is officially transferred to the GFG Alliance.   

Labor believes that the metals manufacturing industry has a bright future in Australia, particularly in our regional cities.  

Labor welcomes today’s announcement that funding has been secured for expansion of the Australian Synchrotron, one of the nation’s premier research facilities.

The expansion has been funded with the support of universities and research institutions in both Australia and New Zealand.

The Minister for Education and Training, Simon Birmingham, must use his address to the AFR Higher Education Summit this morning to refute the Liberal Government’s cowardly threats to cut funding for research and science at Australia’s universities.

The threats – made via an unsourced newspaper article yesterday – suggested that the Government would resort to cutting research funding for universities if the Senate blocks the Liberals unfair and unnecessary cuts to universities, and fee slugs for students.

When all else is failing, all a panicking Prime Minister can do is try to pretend throwing more money at the Snowy Hydro feasibility study is news or leadership. It isn’t either.

In Senate Estimates in May this year, Snowy Hydro already confirmed they were expecting the feasibility study to cost $29 million and ARENA to put in $8 million of this cost.

A panic-stricken Prime Minister today confirmed that there will be no support for Australian manufacturing firms under strain from the high cost of energy until next year.

The Liberals’ policy paralysis on energy is putting jobs at risk across Australia

Malcolm Turnbull’s cups of tea with the energy CEOs has produced little relief for manufacturers, who are paying the price for his Government’s inaction.

Labor welcomes the Turnbull Government’s decision not to proceed with a proposal to allow personal importation of new motor vehicles from the United Kingdom and Japan.

The Minister for Urban Infrastructure, Mr Paul Fletcher, announced today that the change would not be included in the Road Vehicle Standards Bill when it is introduced into Parliament later this year.

The Abbott – Turnbull Government must today take responsibility for the damage they have caused to Australia’s climate science capacity; not only tarnishing our international reputation but putting all Australians at unnecessary risk from climate change impacts. 

Assistant Industry Minister Craig Laundy claims that the Turnbull Government is working with the states and territories to protect public safety by stamping out non-compliance with National Construction Code.

Evidence presented to hearings of the Senate inquiry into non-conforming building products in the past two weeks overwhelmingly reveals the opposite.

This week is Farm Safety Week and this year’s theme is “Creating a resilient, safe and healthy ag community”.

Sadly, too many critical and life threatening injuries occur on our farms each year.

The impact of these injuries on our farming families and their communities is devastating.

Labor welcomes reports that the US is considering Australia’s request for an exemption from President Trump’s proposed harsh import tariffs – especially for steel and aluminium.

The import tariffs currently under consideration would be crippling for Bluescope Steel Australia which exports up to 400,000 tonnes of steel from Port Kembla to the United States.

This would also have a similar impact on Australia’s aluminium industry.