Manufacturing Industry

Senator Sterle introduced the matter of public importance, noting that the proposal had been circulated and supported by the required number of senators. Sterle facilitated the procedural arrangements for the debate to commence.

Senator Smith defended the government's industrial policy, stating that the Future Made in Australia agenda aimed to build a modern energy system and reserve gas for domestic industry. Smith acknowledged the difficulty for Whyalla workers but attributed the blast furnace closure to years of underinvestment by previous owners rather than government policy. Smith highlighted the National Reconstruction Fund, noting it had announced 32 investments totalling $1.83 billion to support strategic capabilities and create future jobs.

Senator Roberts supported the motion, citing rising unemployment and business insolvencies as evidence of economic decline under the current government. Roberts argued that subsidies for heavy industry acted as temporary bridges that ultimately allowed facilities to be hollowed out and replaced by imports. Roberts claimed that weather-dependent renewable energy sources could not sustain manufacturing and that a deregulated environment would attract capital from superannuation funds for domestic production.

Senator Colbeck supported the motion, arguing that the government had lost control of energy prices, which were too high to support green hydrogen or aluminium initiatives. Colbeck noted that promises regarding green aluminium credits for Bell Bay had not materialised, leaving workers without clarity on their future. Colbeck contended that the government's previous commitments to becoming a green energy superpower had evaporated, undermining trust in its industrial strategy.

Senator Lambie criticised the lack of due diligence by the Foreign Investment Review Board regarding Sanjeev Gupta's acquisitions, citing significant debt and alleged financial mismanagement at Whyalla and Bell Bay. Lambie argued that the government needed a 20-year strategic plan for essential industries like steel and aluminium rather than reactive crisis interventions. Lambie suggested the government should take equity stakes in critical facilities to ensure national security and prevent reliance on volatile global supply chains.

Senator McLachlan expressed sympathy for Whyalla workers and attributed the closures to corporate undercapitalisation and poor decision-making by international entities. McLachlan suggested that repeated government funding of private corporations was unsustainable and proposed considering state-owned facilities to ensure sovereign capability. McLachlan emphasised the need for sustainable, clean energy-powered manufacturing and accountability for corporate failures.