Political leaders urged to join forces to save Caterpillar jobs

Labor Leader Bryan Green is calling on both Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten to join forces to save the 280 jobs at Caterpillar in Burnie.

“This is a time when we must all pull together and send a strong message that we will not stand by as a community and see these jobs go,” Mr Green said.

Mr Green said he has written to both leaders urging a strong bipartisan approach.

“This is an issue that crosses political boundaries.

“We are at a tipping point, not only for our region, but manufacturing around Australia.

“It is an issue Governments at State and Federal levels must tackle head on. We should not just give up on these jobs.

“Governments need to show the same kind of commitment Dale Elphinstone has to local manufacturing, and support his endeavours.

“We need to understand from Caterpillar’s management at the highest level what can be done to keep these jobs here and not send them to Thailand.

“This is a terrible blow to the North-West Coast, particularly as the company had previously given a commitment to maintain these manufacturing jobs here.

“We have always sought to compete in high value niche markets and there is no better example of that than Caterpillar in Burnie.

“My great concern is that if the company moves 280 jobs off-shore when it is making significant profits, where does that leave manufacturing on the North-West Coast?”
Bryan Green MP Labor Leader