The Australian Workers’ Union has commended the Albanese Government for recognising that Australia needs to pivot to a more muscular and independent approach to industry support, in the wake of Donald Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs.
Mr Albanese has today indicated that Australia will tighten anti-dumping measures to safeguard the steel and aluminium industries, including by committing an extra $5m to the anti-dumping commission to reduce case times, and better monitor goods and high-risk activities from overseas.
Mr Albanese also said that Australian businesses will sit at the front of the queue as suppliers on government-funded infrastructure.
Acting National Secretary Chris Donovan said the measures would help protect Australia from the fallout of escalating global trade tensions.
“Right now our leaders have a choice: act now or allow Australia to be punished by a global trade war being escalated by Trump,” Mr Donovan said.
“Mr Albanese has shown that he understands Australia needs to be more muscular and independent in defence of our industries. Mr Dutton is still in free trade fantasy land.
“Tit for tat tariffs are not a constructive way for a country like Australia to respond and Labor understands that. Stronger anti-dumping laws, faster dumping investigations, and a procurement policy that puts Australian industry first — these are the essential building blocks of any serious national manufacturing strategy.
“It’s one thing to encourage people to buy Australian, but our government should be leading the way by buying Australian too. If we’re building a wind turbine, a tunnel or a transmission tower with public money, then Australian steel and aluminium should be non-negotiable.
”We’ve let taxpayer dollars fund foreign suppliers while our own world-class manufacturers struggled to grow.”
Mr Donovan said the AWU had long warned that without urgent reforms, Australia’s domestic industries risked being undercut by countries flooding the market with cheap, low-quality stock.
“We know countries like China have a long history of dumping below-cost steel and aluminium into markets like ours, and that is likely to get a lot worse after Donald Trump’s tariffs,” said Mr Donovan.
“Below cost Chinese steel might be a little sugar hit today, but it will completely destroy our economic sovereignty for tomorrow. Now Anthony Albanese is taking a strong first step forward and giving Australia the tools to fight back quickly and effectively.”
Mr Donovan said the Albanese Government’s commitments show it understands that Liberation Day calls for local industry's fortification - not the opposition's meek subordination.
“Australia can come out of this storm with stronger support for our industries but only if we act quickly. The US has gone down a path to rupture globalisation and Australia must protect itself. We need to meet the world where it is, not where it used to be. In every crisis, there is an opportunity,” Mr Donovan said.
“We’re very good at making steel, aluminium and so many other products hit by tariffs. Trump knows it. It’s time we backed ourselves.
“A Dutton government would take a sledgehammer to all of this.
“They’ve made it clear they would junk the $25 billion Future Made in Australia plan. That’s thousands of jobs gone from Whyalla, Gladstone, Portland and many other places.
“The difference is crystal clear. The Coalition wants to snuggle up to Trump as much as possible, even as he harms us. The government has a plan for Australia to forge its own strong path.”
Contact: Tim Brunero 0405 285 547
