Greens Support Manufacturing Workers
Greens MPs from across the country, including Senators Scott Ludlam, Lee Rhiannon, Penny Wright, Sarah Hanson-Young, Janet Rice and Adam Bandt MP, today provided their support to manufacturing workers who came to Parliament seeking a strong shipbuilding and manufacturing base in Australia.
“The Greens will keep fighting to keep Australian manufacturing strong, especially in the south-eastern states,” said Mr Bandt, the Greens Deputy Leader and Industry spokesperson.
“Tony Abbott has no plan to help create more manufacturing jobs and is in fact a threat to Australia’s manufacturing base.”
“We need a national plan for manufacturing after the mining boom to ensure we don’t lose our skills base as we build a clean economy.”
Greens Defence spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam said:
“While we don’t necessarily agree that submarines should be built here, we will listen to workers about how to bring forward builds of other ships to ensure there is a plan to keep people in jobs as we transition manufacturing to a clean economy.
Greens Senator for SA Penny Wright said:
“The manufacturing sector in South Australia has been under pressure for a long time.
“There are world-class, skilled workers and manufacturing infrastructure here and now in SA and the Greens refuse to let them go.
Greens NSW Senator Lee Rhiannon said:
“With a plan to build ships and public transport stock and components locally, as well as grow a strong domestic renewable energy industry, we can retain a central role for manufacturing.
“The country needs manufacturing expertise to build the coming public transport and clean energy revolution.
Greens SA Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“We will listen to workers about how to bring forward builds of ships and frigates, to ensure there is a plan to keep people in jobs as we transition manufacturing to a clean economy.
Greens Transport spokesperson Senator Janet Rice said:
“The Greens will fight for a bright future for manufacturing and shipbuilding in this country because it’s squarely in the national interest to do so.”