www.abc.net.au
Gove calls for government assistance as alumina refinery closure looms
Edited by : AL CIRCLE
3 min read
The Federal Government is coming under increased pressure from the Northern Territory for offering a rescue package for Holden workers in southern states while doing little to help people hit by the looming closure of the Gove alumina refinery.
Territory Labor MP Warren Snowdon says while he supports the Holden assistance package the people of Gove have been offered nothing.
More than 1,000 workers in the town of Nhulunbuy, which has a population of about 4,000, will lose their jobs when Rio Tinto mothballs the refinery next year.
The Federal Government has pledged to provide $60 million directly to South Australia and Victoria to help communities affected by the Holden closure in four years' time.
No monetary assistance has yet been offered to Rio Tinto workers at Gove.
Mr Snowdon says the people of Gove have been forgotten.
"They are losing at least 1,200 jobs as well as impacting on small business and all the communities of north-east Arnhem Land," he said.
"[There is] not even a dickie bird from the Federal Government, Tony Abbott, from the Deputy Prime Minister, from the Minister for Industry or indeed from Senator [Nigel] Scullion to say to the people of Gove, we have got you in mind and we will do something for you.
"They have done absolutely nothing and they stand condemned as a result of it."
A mining contracting business based on the Gove Peninsula says people affected by the looming closure of the refinery have been promised little compared to workers affected by the Holden shutdown.
Territory Chief Minister says Rio Tinto should release its social and economic study on the closure of the refinery to inform the people of Gove.
The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union told the ABC that Rio Tinto would not release the study at a meeting last week.
Mr Giles says he has seen a copy of the report but it is not his responsibility to release it. He says there is no reason why the company should keep it secret.
Mr Giles says he is talking to the Federal Government about what sort of rescue package it can put into place once Rio Tinto has finalised its response for workers and the community.
"We know, through conversations with Rio Tinto, they are about a month, month-and-a-half away, from coming forward with what their package will be to assist residents of Gove and the township itself," he said.
After that, he said, the federal and Territory governments would be able to respond to calls for additional assistance.
Territory Labor MP Warren Snowdon says while he supports the Holden assistance package the people of Gove have been offered nothing.
More than 1,000 workers in the town of Nhulunbuy, which has a population of about 4,000, will lose their jobs when Rio Tinto mothballs the refinery next year.
The Federal Government has pledged to provide $60 million directly to South Australia and Victoria to help communities affected by the Holden closure in four years' time.
No monetary assistance has yet been offered to Rio Tinto workers at Gove.
Mr Snowdon says the people of Gove have been forgotten.
"They are losing at least 1,200 jobs as well as impacting on small business and all the communities of north-east Arnhem Land," he said.
"[There is] not even a dickie bird from the Federal Government, Tony Abbott, from the Deputy Prime Minister, from the Minister for Industry or indeed from Senator [Nigel] Scullion to say to the people of Gove, we have got you in mind and we will do something for you.
"They have done absolutely nothing and they stand condemned as a result of it."
A mining contracting business based on the Gove Peninsula says people affected by the looming closure of the refinery have been promised little compared to workers affected by the Holden shutdown.
Territory Chief Minister says Rio Tinto should release its social and economic study on the closure of the refinery to inform the people of Gove.
The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union told the ABC that Rio Tinto would not release the study at a meeting last week.
Mr Giles says he has seen a copy of the report but it is not his responsibility to release it. He says there is no reason why the company should keep it secret.
Mr Giles says he is talking to the Federal Government about what sort of rescue package it can put into place once Rio Tinto has finalised its response for workers and the community.
"We know, through conversations with Rio Tinto, they are about a month, month-and-a-half away, from coming forward with what their package will be to assist residents of Gove and the township itself," he said.
After that, he said, the federal and Territory governments would be able to respond to calls for additional assistance.
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