Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced the Commonwealth Government will provide Rio Tinto’s Tomago aluminium smelter with billions of dollars in subsidised clean energy from the government-owned Snowy Hydro.
The deal will see Rio Tinto keep the smelter open, saving 1,000 jobs.
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Albanese and Industry Minister Tim Ayres made the announcement outside the Tomago smelter near Newcastle in New South Wales.
“I have a simple message for the workers here in Tomago today. That is, we have got you back. We are working with the company, we are working with the NSW government to make sure that there is a long-term energy solution to go forward beyond 2028,” he told assembled workers,” Albanese said.
“Have a great Christmas in the knowledge that over coming months, as a result of the decision that we have taken, we will be working on finalising these details to make sure that your future is as secure as it should be.”
The Australian Workers’ Union welcomed the announcement.
“This is a pivotal moment for Australian manufacturing,” AWU national secretary Paul Farrow said.
“The AWU has been knocking on every door—federal, state, company, thought leaders—to make sure the right people were talking to each other and working toward a solution. We’re pleased that effort has paid off.
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“For months we’ve been saying that Tomago isn’t just another industrial site. It’s the test case for whether Australia is serious about having a manufacturing future.
“You can’t have the largest aluminium smelter in the country closing while talking up the future of local manufacturing.”
