❓ Hon Neil Thomson questions the government on job losses in the nickel and battery manufacturing industries, while the government attributes the losses to global market conditions, citing statements from affected companies.
AnsweredQoN 838Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
NICKEL INDUSTRY —
JOB LOSSES
838. Hon NEIL THOMSON to the Leader of the House
representing the Premier:
I refer to the recently announced
job losses at Albemarle, Nickel West and Alcoa and the thousands of jobs lost,
or to be lost, in the downstream processing of minerals involved in battery
manufacturing.
(1) What did the government do to
attempt to avert these job losses?
(2) Have any of the government's
policies contributed to the job losses?
(3) If yes to (2), which policies?
(4) Have any of the federal
government's policies contributed to the job losses?
(5) If yes (4), which policies?
JOB LOSSES
838. Hon NEIL THOMSON to the Leader of the House
representing the Premier:
I refer to the recently announced
job losses at Albemarle, Nickel West and Alcoa and the thousands of jobs lost,
or to be lost, in the downstream processing of minerals involved in battery
manufacturing.
(1) What did the government do to
attempt to avert these job losses?
(2) Have any of the government's
policies contributed to the job losses?
(3) If yes to (2), which policies?
(4) Have any of the federal
government's policies contributed to the job losses?
(5) If yes (4), which policies?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1)–(5) The
Cook government acknowledges the volatility of global commodity markets and the
impact that recent decisions by producers have on the local workforce and their
families. I refer the member to public commentary from the aforementioned
organisations that have clearly stated that their decisions are in response to global market conditions, not
government policies. A spokesperson for Albemarle said in The West Australian on 1 August 2024 that the decision had nothing to
do with state and federal government policies, saying. ''today's
decisions regarding Kemerton are entirely due to market conditions''.
In a media
statement released on 11 July 2024 —
Hon Neil Thomson : You don't
have any policies.
Hon SUE ELLERY : Does the
member want the answer?
Hon Neil Thomson interjected.
Hon SUE ELLERY : Does the
member want the answer? I am giving the member the answer, but he needs to be
quiet while I do it.
In a media statement released on 11
July 2024, BHP Nickel West said that its decision to temporarily suspend
operations —
could not be countered by the welcome
policy interventions made by the WA and Federal governments.
Alcoa's
executive vice president stated in The West Australian on 16 January 2024
that the company's decision to curtail operations at its Kwinana
facility was the result of multiple factors, not government policy and
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)–(5) The
Cook government acknowledges the volatility of global commodity markets and the
impact that recent decisions by producers have on the local workforce and their
families. I refer the member to public commentary from the aforementioned
organisations that have clearly stated that their decisions are in response to global market conditions, not
government policies. A spokesperson for Albemarle said in The West Australian on 1 August 2024 that the decision had nothing to
do with state and federal government policies, saying. ''today's
decisions regarding Kemerton are entirely due to market conditions''.
In a media
statement released on 11 July 2024 —
Hon Neil Thomson : You don't
have any policies.
Hon SUE ELLERY : Does the
member want the answer?
Hon Neil Thomson interjected.
Hon SUE ELLERY : Does the
member want the answer? I am giving the member the answer, but he needs to be
quiet while I do it.
In a media statement released on 11
July 2024, BHP Nickel West said that its decision to temporarily suspend
operations —
could not be countered by the welcome
policy interventions made by the WA and Federal governments.
Alcoa's
executive vice president stated in The West Australian on 16 January 2024
that the company's decision to curtail operations at its Kwinana
facility was the result of multiple factors, not government policy and
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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