Ms Ridout regret over failure to stop cheap imports

ABC cited Ms Heather Ridout the outgoing CEO of the Australian Industry Group as saying that tougher action must be taken over dumping cheap aluminium and steel in the country which is hurting manufacturers across the Hunter Valley.

Ms Heather Ridout said that the dumping of subsidized aluminium from China has contributed to production cuts and job losses at the Kurri Kurri smelter. Australia should be complaining more to the World Trade Organization. The Americans seem to have a very well trod path to the WTO.

She said that "In fact they've won a few cases, the Brazilians I think have taken about a hundred this year most of them against China. We're pussycats, we have the most open economy in the western world and yet we don't stick up for ourselves. That's one of the long arguments I've had with Canberra. I haven't won it, I feel very very despondent that I'm leaving this job and I haven't won that argument."

Ms Heather Ridout said that local manufacturers should seize on opportunities to ride-out the tough global conditions. Anything that's supplying into mining and whether it's manufacturing, service related sector or an actual making bit, we can really make a go of that.

She said that areas where we can add upstream value to our natural resources whether it's in gas and that's a major issue at the moment. I think there are still a lot of areas in high tech manufacturing, we're good at it.