Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has written to the Prime Minister calling for immediate action upon reports that Caterpillar is reviewing operations at its Burnie facility in Tasmania.

 

The loss of around 280 jobs would be a disastrous outcome for the North West.

 

Tony Abbott must outline exactly what steps, if any, he has taken to engage with the Caterpillar Corporation parent company in the United States.

 

We must ensure every effort has been made to support Caterpillar’s ongoing operational viability in Tasmania.

 

The Abbott Government’s track record on stopping multinational companies from taking Australian jobs overseas is diabolical.

 

Unemployment in Tasmania’s North West is already at 7.8 per cent.

 

Tasmania’s North West cannot afford to lose these high-skilled, productive jobs without a fight, and without ongoing support from the Australian Government.

 

The absolute priority for the Abbott Government should be finding out what, if anything, can be done at this stage to keep Caterpillar operating in Tasmania.

 

During the 2013 election campaign, Labor committed $10 million to assist Caterpillar to modernise its operations.

 

This was on top of Labor's $5 million investment in jobs at Caterpillar awarded under the Tasmanian Jobs and Growth plan.

 

This funding was not delivered by the Liberals.

 

Labor has repeatedly sought a bipartisan commitment from the Abbott Government to get behind the North West and revitalise its economy.

 

Labor believes in a strong economy that doesn’t leave people behind, including the families and small businesses of Tasmania’s North West.

 

This Government’s dishonesty and incompetence is hurting Tasmanians – it’s hurting the economy, it’s hurting jobs and it’s hurting the most vulnerable.

 

The Abbott Government has no plan for jobs, growth or economic diversity in North West Tasmania.

 

Labor calls on Tony Abbott to pick up the phone to Caterpillar and fight for the livelihood of hundreds of workers, their families and the survival of the community they live in.

 

THURSDAY, 16 APRIL 2015

 

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