In an extraordinary display, the Berejiklian Government has refused a vote on the Labor Securing NSW Steel Industry Bill 2017 for a second time this year.

The Labor Opposition earlier this morning called for a vote on the Bill.

The Government used its numbers to refuse a vote despite multiple Government members indicating their intention to vote against the Bill.

The Securing NSW Steel Industry Bill 2017 was introduced earlier this year following the Government’s refusal to vote on a similar Bill introduced into the Legislative Council last year.

The Securing NSW Steel Industry Bill 2017 calls for:

• Minimum 90 per cent local steel content for publicly funded infrastructure projects in New South Wales, and
• The appointment of a NSW Steel Industry Advocate to monitor compliance with the Bill and that the office should be established in the Illawarra region.

The Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra and South Coast, Gareth Ward MP, voted with the Government to stall a final vote on the Bill, as he did last year, after indicating his intention to vote against the Bill.

NSW Labor is committed to a secure and sustainable steel industry in the Illawarra.

Due to the Government’s refusal to have a vote on the Bill, it will lapse from the Legislative Assembly Business Paper on the 5 October 2017.

Despite the Government’s refusal to have a vote on the Bill again today, it will be re-introduced again into the Legislative Assembly as soon as possible.

Comments attributable to Ryan Park MP:

“Once again the Government has used tricky parliamentary tactics to refuse a vote on the Securing NSW Steel Industry Bill 2017.

“This is now becoming a joke: why does the Government continue to refuse a vote on this Bill.

“The Government, led by Gareth Ward, has already indicated numerous times he will oppose the Bill.

“Why won’t the Government allow the Parliament to vote on it?”

Comments attributable to Anna Watson MP:

“The attitude against the Securing NSW Steel Industry Bill by the Government and Gareth Ward from the beginning has been extremely disappointing.

“This Bill has attracted the strong support of the unions, employers, our local community and all the minor parties in the Parliament.

“We won’t ever give up the fight to save the jobs of steel workers in the Illawarra.”

Comments attributable to Paul Scully MP:

“The Liberal Party continues to kick steel workers in the guts.

“We will now re-introduce this Bill again.

“I simply can’t understand why Gareth Ward and the Government don’t seem to share in the pride we have in the Illawarra for the steel we make at Port Kembla and want it used in every road, bridge, school and hospital built across the state.

“We are determined to force the Government to vote on this Bill.”