Senator Kim Carr

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.    

Labor welcomes the announcement of the sale of Arrium to the British GFG Alliance, guaranteeing the continuation of the Australian steel industry at scale and ending 15 months of uncertainty for the workforce and the people of Whyalla.

Labor remains committed to working with the new owners, the Commonwealth and South Australian Governments to ensure the long term future of the company and the Whyalla steel works.

Another Liberal backflip will see fewer jobs from Australia’s $50 billion Future Submarine Program going to Australian workers.

The Liberals’ promise that 90 per cent of the submarine build will happen in Australia has been contradicted at a Senate hearing this week.

Labor welcomes the release of Grow. Make. Prosper; The Decadal Plan for Australian Agriculture.

The report is the work of the Australian Academy of Science’s National Committee for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

As the report points out, it is time to put a greater emphasis on the importance of better communication and collaboration of science, R&D, big data analysis and innovation in the agriculture sector.  

Labor welcomes KordaMentha’s announcement today that Newlake Alliance and JB Asset Management with support from the POSCO company has been named as the preferred bidder in the sale process of steel maker Arrium.

The Administrators will move to finalise the sale contract pending approval by the Foreign Investment Review Board.