FED:Abbott seeks 'level field' for industry

AAP General News (Australia)
08-29-2011
FED:Abbott seeks 'level field' for industry

MELBOURNE, Aug 29 AAP - The federal opposition says it will consult with Australian
industry on how to ensure manufacturers hurt by the strong dollar are competing on a level
playing field.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said the review of Australia's industries would be co-chaired
by opposition industry spokeswoman Sophie Mirabella and opposition resources spokesman
Ian Macfarlane.

The review will canvass views from sectors that are expanding and contracting under
the influence of the mining boom, Mr Abbott told a Committee for Economic Development
of Australia luncheon on Monday.

"The objective won't be to protect parts of the economy from legitimate competition
but to try to ensure that Australian manufacturers face a genuinely level playing field
when they compete for orders," he said.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard met on Monday with industry representatives and unions
following last week's announcement of 1000 jobs axed at steel giant BlueScope Steel.

Mr Abbott conceded it had never been easy to manufacture in Australia's small domestic
market with high wages policies and vast distances to overseas markets.

But he said adjustment packages adopted under a carbon pricing scheme that moved workers
out of productive jobs could easily become a form of "corporate welfare".

Ms Gillard should be talking to everyone involved in manufacturing - "not just union
officials", Mr Abbott said.

"Any meeting to address the problems in manufacturing industry that doesn't address
the carbon tax is nothing more than a desperate PR stunt."

Findings of the review are due to be released by December.

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KEYWORD: MANUFACTURING ABBOTT (PIX AND VIDEO AVAILABLE)

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