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Daniel Andrews failing to stand up for regional jobsAlcoa's Portland aluminum smelter was settled a deal to keep it open, but broken the hearts of hundred of workers in East Gippsland and the Latrobe Valley. By Portal Admin - 27th January 2017 - Back to News Dear Editor,
There was great relief for 1600 workers at Alcoa’s Portland aluminium smelter in late January, after ongoing negotiations with the Federal and State governments settled a deal to keep the smelter open.
This is great news for Victoria’s south-west, but it has broken the hearts of hundreds of workers in East Gippsland and the Latrobe Valley who are also facing job losses but can’t get Daniel Andrews to stand up for them.
The Andrews Government proudly boasts it worked 'around the clock' to secure jobs at Alcoa, but Daniel Andrews was missing-in-action when Hazelwood workers needed help to save their jobs.
Likewise, Labor are sitting idle as the jobs of about 250 timber mill workers in East Gippsland, and about 7000 indirect jobs further down the line, hang in the balance.
This is because Daniel Andrew’s Labor Government refuses to give this mill, and Victoria’s other timber mills, a guaranteed long term supply of timber.
Daniel Andrews is picking and choosing which jobs are worth fighting for.
Inner-city greens preferences are controlling Daniel Andrew’s political agenda and regional Victoria is witnessing a Premier who is prepared to sacrifice their jobs to save his own.
Daniel Andrews must immediately turn his Government’s attention to fighting for the jobs of our forestry industry and to ensuring Hazelwood workers and their families have a future in the Latrobe Valley.
Peter Walsh
Leader of The Nationals
Member for Murray Plains
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: support@gippsland.com
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