❓ Opposition asks about Premier's representations to the Commonwealth regarding carve-outs for vulnerable industries from the safeguard mechanism. The Premier rejects the premise, citing Alcoa's reasons for closure.
AnsweredQoN 65Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
INDUSTRY —
CLOSURES
65. Hon NEIL THOMSON to the Leader of the House
representing the Premier:
I refer to the collapse of
energy-intensive industries, including the shutdown of Alcoa's alumina
refinery at Kwinana, the threat of closure of the nickel refinery in Kalgoorlie
and the risk of offshoring cement manufacture in Western Australia.
(1) What
representations in writing, if any, has the Premier made to his commonwealth
colleagues to carve out vulnerable and low
emissions industries from the safeguard mechanism under the allowable
provisions for trade-exposed industries?
(2) If none have been made, why not?
(3) If representations have been
made, can the Premier table those representations?
CLOSURES
65. Hon NEIL THOMSON to the Leader of the House
representing the Premier:
I refer to the collapse of
energy-intensive industries, including the shutdown of Alcoa's alumina
refinery at Kwinana, the threat of closure of the nickel refinery in Kalgoorlie
and the risk of offshoring cement manufacture in Western Australia.
(1) What
representations in writing, if any, has the Premier made to his commonwealth
colleagues to carve out vulnerable and low
emissions industries from the safeguard mechanism under the allowable
provisions for trade-exposed industries?
(2) If none have been made, why not?
(3) If representations have been
made, can the Premier table those representations?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1)–(3) We
are disappointed by Alcoa's decision to fully curtail production at the
Kwinana alumina refinery, and our thoughts go out to the hundreds of workers
who will be impacted. That said, I reject the premise of the question. Alcoa
said the decision was made due to the facility's age, scale and
operating costs, as well as market conditions, and not government policies as
the Liberal Party falsely accuses.
Matt
Reed, Alcoa's executive vice president and chief operations officer,
said suggestions that curtailment at the refinery was the result of
government policy ''overlooked commercial realities'' and that ''politicisation
of the matter is an unfortunate distraction at a time when the focus should be
on caring for our people and others impacted.''
some notice of the question.
(1)–(3) We
are disappointed by Alcoa's decision to fully curtail production at the
Kwinana alumina refinery, and our thoughts go out to the hundreds of workers
who will be impacted. That said, I reject the premise of the question. Alcoa
said the decision was made due to the facility's age, scale and
operating costs, as well as market conditions, and not government policies as
the Liberal Party falsely accuses.
Matt
Reed, Alcoa's executive vice president and chief operations officer,
said suggestions that curtailment at the refinery was the result of
government policy ''overlooked commercial realities'' and that ''politicisation
of the matter is an unfortunate distraction at a time when the focus should be
on caring for our people and others impacted.''
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