THE Central West’s horror month of job cuts has been raised as an issue in State Parliament.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The planned closure of Bathurst’s Downer EDI plant and the Orange Electrolux plant, along with a dramatic downsizing of operations at Simplot’s Bathurst facility, will see almost 800 jobs lost from the Central West in coming years.
NSW Labor MLC Mick Veitch addressed the job losses in the Senate last Thursday, accusing the new Federal Government of failing local workers.
“Like Simplot, Electrolux met with the former Federal Government seeking co-investment that would support a decision by Electrolux Sweden to provide the new product range to Orange,” Mr Veitch said.
“The new Federal Minister for Industry met with Electrolux management in recent weeks. As was the case with his visit to Simplot, he failed to give any commitments to the people of the Central West.
“There is very little time left for the people of the Central West who are employed by Electrolux. They are fighting, along with their unions, for themselves, their children and their community.
“The people of the Central West need a government that is prepared to stand up for local manufacturing jobs.”
Mr Veitch said the State Government also had to take some responsibility for the plant closures and downsizing.
“Downer EDI, Simplot and Electrolux are world leaders in their respective industry sectors,” he said.
“They are world-class innovators and major employers of skilled labour in regional NSW.
“Our rolling stock and food industries have been abandoned by the State Government that has no industry policy and no commitment to local manufacturing.
“It seems that they will also be abandoned by the new Federal Government. NSW manufacturers and the people of the Central West deserve much better.
“They need government at all levels to support local manufacturers through genuine co-investment that would allow them to compete on a level playing field with the rest of the world, where governments recognise the critical role of manufacturing and do not hesitate to provide support.”