Industry Minister Greg Combet has rejected calls from the New South Wales Government to save a Hunter Valley aluminium smelter that’s set to close.
The New South Wales Energy Minister Chris Hartcher has called on the Federal Government to save the Kurri aluminium smelter, as it is announcing a $42 million dollar package to save 600 jobs at Alcoa’s Point Henry aluminium smelter in Victoria.
Last month Norwegian firm Norsk Hydro announced it would close the Kurri plant, with the loss of 300 jobs.
Another 100 jobs were lost in January when Tomago Aluminiun announced a restructure.
Mr Hartcher says the Federal Government should put up funds to save the Kurri operation if it was saving the Victoria plant.
But Mr Combet claims the New South Wales Government failed to offer reasonable electricity prices, making the Kurri situation different to that in Victoria.
