MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE
Mr WILLCOX (Dawson) (15:41): Labor is destroying industry and manufacturing in this country. While I welcome the intervention into Glencore, it is like putting a bandaid on a bullet wound: you are doing nothing to fix the fundamentals of helping industry within this country. Back in July, this side of the House called for a Senate inquiry into the health of the metal manufacturing industry within Australia, because we knew they were facing some headwinds.
But what happened? Those opposite teamed up with their mates the Greens—that old holy alliance—and voted it down. Who in their right mind would not want to work out—or actually listen to industry, speak to industry about—what they need to make sure they have a strong future?
Since then, what have we seen? We've seen more than $3 billion needed for bailouts: $2.4 billion in Whyalla, $135 million for Nyrstar and now, just recently, a $600 million bailout for Glencore. That will hopefully save 600 jobs.
Now, I'm supportive of the jobs, but that is $1 million per person. And probably the biggest indictment on those opposite is that Alcoa, in the resources minister's electorate, is closing down. If you can't even save one of your own, in your own electorate—it's closing down.
When I speak to industry and manufacturers, the No. 1 issue that they have is energy. Energy prices are going through the roof. They're skyrocketing.
This is after, in 2022—everyone can remember this—the Prime Minister stood up and said, 'You will be $275 better off if you vote for me.' That wasn't a slip of the tongue; it was a promise repeated 97 times. But what's happened? Household budgets have ended up $1,300 worse off.
And manufacturing and the industry have been much worse off. Blue River Ice, in my electorate—their bill has gone up by more than $10,000 a month. It is unaffordable for heavy industry.
Heavy industry is very capital intensive, so they need to operate 24 hours a day. For those opposite, something that needs to operate 24 hours a day needs baseload power that is actually produced 24 hours a day, not a reckless race to renewables, which is what they are backing, that produce power only when the sun shines or the wind blows. How much sun shines at night?
None at all. Ms Comer interjecting— Mr WILLCOX: Battery storage—a great question from those opposite, and I take the interjection. How does heavy industry run on batteries?
Ba-bow! It doesn't. That's how simple it is—it doesn't.
What about gas? Gas remains over $10 a gigajoule. We've got plenty of gas in Australia.
Why don't we drill for more, explore more and actually increase gas supply? Everybody knows, when you increase supply, the price can go down. The next thing that manufacturers talk to me about is labour shortages.
We need to bring in some skilled workers. This should touch a nerve with those on the other side— Mr Rob Mitchell: Immigration—you don't like immigration! Mr WILLCOX: Thank you—your migration policy.
The big Australia policy of the Albanese Labor government is bringing in the wrong people. You need to be bringing in electricians, plumbers and gasfitters—people who can actually provide rather than that, when you get a ticket to Australia, it is like winning Gold Lotto. We should be able to pick the right people to bring in and look after our country—you need to wake up and smell the roses, folks—rather than necessarily just chasing the people who will vote for you.
Think about Australia for once rather than yourselves. Of course, the other issue is the supply chains. There was $7.2 billion for the Bruce Highway, another promise by Labor, before the election.
It has just been realised in Senate estimates that there's only $432 million available over the next three years. Unbelievable! Rather than having $7,200 million, there is $432 over the next three years.
What a circus! In the space industry—in 2023, you stripped $1.2 billion out of that. When is the Albanese Labor government going to get behind manufacturing and support it?
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