Call to arms to save Caterpillar jobs on North-West Coast

Labor Leader Bryan Green said today’s announcement by Caterpillar in Burnie was a terrible blow to the North-West Coast.

Mr Green said he is perusing a meeting with the company’s senior management to see what can be done to ensure the jobs stay in Burnie.

“We must pull out all stops and fight for these jobs.

“The loss of more jobs at a time when the Liberal Government is sacking workers sends a terrible message to the community.

“The Liberals have overseen the loss of more than 1600 mining jobs on the West Coast over the past 12 months and have done little or nothing about it.

“The jobs at Caterpillar have been under pressure for some time but the company had committed to continue manufacturing in Burnie.

“This is a dramatic change of direction which will see these manufacturing jobs go.

“The Government’s new Coordinator General should take a leading role in ensuring Caterpillar has a future on the North-West Coast for Tasmania’s sake.

Mr Green said it was now more important than ever for Braddon Liberal Brett Whiteley and the Federal Government to turn their rhetoric about supporting businesses and local jobs into action.

“The jobs at Caterpillar are high quality manufacturing jobs that are being shifted off shore. Where is the Federal Liberals’ industry policy and what is it going to do?

“The loss of these jobs will have a significant impact on the North-West Coast and the Government needs to understand that.’
Bryan Green MP Labor Leader