Scott Morrison must immediately intervene to stop BP from closing its Kwinana Refinery in Western Australia.
 
News of the planned closure comes just six weeks after the Prime Minister said: “The Government is committed to a sovereign on-shore refinery capacity despite the threat to the viability of the industry.”
 
It’s not enough for Mr Morrison to say he is disappointed about this decision, which would cost 600 jobs.
 
He needs to get on the telephone to BP and tell them to reverse the decision.
 
Australia is an island nation and fuel security should be our top priority.
 
Despite his promises, Scott Morrison has failed to protect Australia’s fuel security, as well as our crucial refining industry and the jobs it supports. We are increasingly at risk of being a country that imports all of our fuel.
 
Today, Australians have once again been reminded what an announcement from this Prime Minister is worth; absolutely nothing.
 
He is always there for the photo op, but never there for the follow up.
 
Labor took a plan to the 2019 election to establish a national fuel reserve and has been calling for years for the Government to secure the future of our four remaining refineries with real fuel security policies, which Resources Minister Matt Canavan called a “thought bubble.”
 
After seven years of failing to deliver a critical manufacturing plan, it is now incumbent on the Government to do more to support manufacturing businesses and their workers.
 

FRIDAY, 30 OCTOBER 2020