Campaigners have pledged to lobby NSW Liberal MPs in the wake of the steel bill passing through the upper house on Thursday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The bill – created by the NSW Greens – passed through the upper house with the help of Labor, the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers and the Christian Democrats.
It will now be debated in the lower house, where the Liberal party have a majority and have so far stated their opposition to the bill calling for 90 per cent Australian steel in all NSW government projects.
Steel campaigner and South Coast Labour Council secretary Arthur Rorris said there would now be a strong push to sway the Liberal MPs.
“The steelworkers will be getting in contact with every government MP in the lower house and saying to them that our expectation is that they don’t stuff this up,” Mr Rorris said.
“We have an opportunity to secure our industry. We expect this government to take it.”
Mr Rorris called for a meeting with Premier Mike Baird, Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra Gareth Ward and relevant government ministers to hear their problems with the bill and work out a solution.
“If it is a question of some aspects that they don’t consider will stack up, then lets consider the amendments to the bill that might make it more amenable to them,” Mr Rorris said.
The push for a federal steel bill has also gained momentum from this week’s events, said Mr Rorris.
“I’ve already had calls from senators who are asking about the state bill,” Mr Rorris said.
“We are in Canberra next week meeting with senators and shadow ministers and hopefully government ministers as well.”