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Keeping steel jobs onshore is vital for the economy, Federal Minister for Skills and Training Brendan O’Connor has told the Australian steel convention.
In a Day 2 (September 12) address to the Australian Steel Institute (ASI) convention, O’Connor said the Federal Government had allocated $15b in its National Reconstruction Fund to building infrastructure locally, with locally made steel an important part of that plan.
“Steel is the backbone of the construction industry,” he told the convention. “Our government is committed to ensuring the Australian steel industry remains robust and active. Part of that plan is a strong stance on anti-dumping,” he said.
O’Connor welcomed the ASI’s focus on promoting careers in steel in the form of its the new ASI Careers Centre (https://jobs.steel.org.au) and its efforts to address gender imbalance, noting 50% of the ASI’s staff were women.
“The federal government had invested $1b to create fee-free VET training in key areas including manufacturing and construction trades. Ten thousand new energy apprentices will be able to access $10,000 each in support under the program, he said.
ASI is the peak body for the Australian steel industry, with 500 companies and 5000 members. Founding members are BlueScope, InfraBuild, Liberty Primary Steel and Stramit Building Products.
For more information on this press release, please contact ASI marketing and communications manager Steven Andrew on 0473 480 964 or stevena@steel.org.au.