AMWU demanding action on Hunter rail manufacture

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Rail workers and unions gathered outside the Crowne Plaza in Newcastle this morning before a Senate Inquiry got underway into the manufacture of trains in Australia.

The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union is demanding the Federal Government bring train building contracts back to the Hunter.

The Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee inquiry into the state of Australia's rail industry in Newcastle this morning heard evidence from local firms, expert witnesses and workers.

Image AMWU Twitter

"We felt that we got a very good and robust engagement with the Senate inquiry and we'll be continuing to campaign and lobby for our position to make sure the government and Malcom Turnbull do the right thing," said AMWU Assistant National Secretary Glenn Thompson.

The AMWU says $4 billion worth of local train building contracts have gone offshore and it needs to stop.

"State wise this government has been absolutely appalling with the $2.3 billion contract for 65 trainsets going to South Korea. Now Minister Constance should be called the employment minister for South Korea because he's creating a lot of jobs and a lot of apprenticeships in South Korea but not here in Newcastle and the Hunter," said Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp.

Tim Crakanthorp believes if a full proof policy is put in place, the Hunter will benefit astronomically with more jobs and quality products being produced.  

The Newcastle MP says 1200 direct jobs and up to 2800 indirect jobs are going to be affected after the government awarded a $2.3 billion contract for a South Korean manufacturer.

Demand for new railcars is expected to grow by about 11,000 in the next 30 years.

"The key is for the government to get a policy in place with the state premiers to ensure that we have a policy that we build all trains in Australia and of course the Hunter - where there have been 100 years of building trains - we'd be in prime position to benefit from such a policy," said Glenn Thompson.

There are already manufacturers in the Hunter, all they need are contracts.

"We have UGL who still do produce diesel locomotives but they haven't had a proper train contract for manufacture for some time and unfortunately we've lost many many skilled workers who've left the area because there simply aren't the jobs," he said.

Image AMWU Twitter