The situation at ailing Liberty Bell Bay has continued as a dominant news theme in Tasmania today.
After yesterday’s shock announcement that the plant would be winding down operations indefinitely, lots more has been said.
The Tasmanian Government said they were begging for Australian Government intervention to prop up in some way the struggling company.
The Labor Opposition accused the Premier of ‘not being across the detail’ in relation to threats to the smelter’s operations.
Local Greens’ MHA (Cecily Rosol, Bass) supported the call for the Australian Government to provide support to workers similar to that provided to Whyalla steelworkers earlier this year.
Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone’s importance as an industrial hub was noted by the Launceston Chamber of Commerce who fear ripple effects across the business community of northern Tasmania.
Read their statements below.
Media release – Jeremy Rockliff, Premier, 20 May 2025
Statement from the Premier
The Tasmanian Government is closely engaging with the situation facing Liberty Bell Bay, which has seen production pause due to challenges securing manganese ore supply following recent cyclone disruptions as well as financial issues faced by GFG company.
Liberty Bell Bay is Australia’s only manganese smelter and one of our State’s largest employers and economic contributors.
Over the past week, I have been engaged with and briefed by Liberty Bell Bay, and this morning, I met with the George Town Council Mayor.
Last week, I engaged with the Prime Minister directly, requesting the Federal Government to support our major employer as a matter of priority.
I made it clear to the Prime Minister that Tasmania expects the Federal Government to play a pivotal role in securing supply chain opportunities, acknowledging their Future Made in Australia policy, which seeks to strengthen sovereign capability.
The Federal Government’s Critical Minerals Strategy lists manganese, and the United States also designates manganese as a critical mineral.
Tasmania fully expects the Federal Government to do all it can to support steel-making capability in Australia and secure the operations’ future.
I expect that, should Federal Government support be required to secure the operations and future of our manganese smelter, they’ll be afforded the same opportunities that were offered to other smelters.
I acknowledge this is a very difficult time for Liberty workers and the broader community.
Our focus is firmly on them. We are doing all we can to secure their future.
Media release – Janie Finlay MP, Shadow Minister for Energy & Renewables, 20 May 2025
Rockliff caught off guard on Liberty Bell Bay – the workers deserve Leadership
The situation at Liberty Bell Bay is deeply concerning.
For months, Labor has been raising concerns about the energy price rises that have hit Liberty and other major industrials. I am concerned that this is heading towards a crisis across our major industrials whereby the government is actively making the situation worse.
Premier Rockliff’s statement yesterday was factually wrong. Liberty Bell Bay is not in care and maintenance. Rather, it will be going into limited operations.
The Premier needs to get across the detail of this. Now. This situation didn’t come out of nowhere, there have been warning signs for months – especially the situation at Whyalla Steelworks in South Australia. For more than six months, industry experts, unions, and local stakeholders have been raising concerns about ore supply pressures and uncertainty surrounding GFG finances.
If the Premier didn’t know what was happening at Liberty Bell Bay, he should have just said so, instead of making it up.
Labor Leader Dean Winter and I have been in constant contact with the company, and its workforce through the Australian Workers Union.
We will be working with the Australian Government through Industry Minister Tim Ayres. I am confident they are prepared to help, but this needs to be led by the Premier, and he needs to wake up and get across the detail before it’s too late.
This is a critically important local business of national significance – not just for the 300 workers and their families, but for the broader regional economy and Tasmania’s industrial future.
Media release – Cecily Rosol MP, Greens MP for Bass, 20 May 2025
Federal Government Should Support Liberty Workers
With the concerning news that Liberty Bell Bay will be in limited operations, the Greens are calling on the Federal Government to step in and offer support to workers.
When Whyalla steelworks was placed into administration in South Australia recently, we saw the Labor Government provide billions to assist local workers. The Federal Government should provide the same support for the workers dependent on Liberty Bell Bay.
This is a stressful time for the 250 workers at the smelter, and local businesses who rely on it. The Labor Government should provide workers with some surety.
The Greens will continue to stand in solidarity with workers affected by the issues at Liberty Bell Bay, and put pressure on both state and federal governments to support them.
Media release – Launceston Chamber of Commerce, 20 May 2025
Uncertainty at Liberty Bell Bay Requires Urgent State Government Leadership
The Launceston Chamber of Commerce is concerned about the potential economic impact of the operational pause at Liberty Bell Bay’s manganese smelter —for direct employees and the many northern Tasmanian businesses that rely on the precinct through supply chain contracts and service delivery.
This disruption has immediate consequences for workers but also threatens broader business confidence and the economic fabric of the region. The Chamber is calling on both the Tasmanian and Federal Governments to step up with urgent support, planning certainty and structural reforms to secure the long-term future of this vital industrial hub.
“Liberty Bell Bay is more than a single site — it underpins dozens of local businesses and hundreds of families who depend on its operations, directly or indirectly,” said Chamber CEO Alina Bain.
The ripple effects of lost jobs and reduced production are already being felt across our business community.”
The Chamber is particularly concerned about the impact on small to medium-sized enterprises that supply goods, services and support to Liberty Bell Bay and its workforce. These businesses face compounding pressures as production slows and uncertainty grows.
The Chamber will be seeking a meeting with the Premier to more fully understand the situation, and to advocate for coordinated State and Federal Government support for affected workers and businesses.
This is a time for strong and visible leadership. The challenges facing Liberty Bell Bay require not only immediate support but also a clear path forward for industry, workers and the broader business community. The Launceston Chamber of Commerce stands ready to work alongside the Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone and the State Government to help chart that path — one that secures jobs, restores confidence and drives a bold new vision for industrial growth in northern Tasmania.
The Chamber is urging all levels of government to act quickly to support affected workers and businesses, establish a shared long-term vision for the precinct, prioritise Liberty Bell Bay in national strategies, and deliver planning certainty through investment and transparent engagement with operators.
The Chamber supports the recent public comments from Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone CEO Susie Bower and TMEC Chair Ray Mostogl, which highlight the urgency of structural reform, coordinated planning and clear communication.
“This is a moment for leadership and vision,” Ms Bain said. “The Chamber stands ready to support our members, and we call on government at all levels to act now.”
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