Jeldwen is one of the biggest manufacturers in Knox with its Rowville plant being the largest Jeldwen site in the nation employing hundreds of locals.
Mr Abbott and Mr Tudge examined the new glass manufacturing facility and had meetings with the senior executives, including Senior Vice President Adrian Tate, to discuss what could be done to help local manufacturers struggling to compete in Australia.
Top of the list was the need to abolish the carbon tax which just makes manufacturing in Australia more expensive. For Jeldwen alone, the cost of the tax was over $330,000.
A new house built in the area is $5,000 more expensive due to the carbon tax according to the Housing Industry Association, that was also present.
Other topics covered included
- Cutting red tape to ensure that local businesses are not strangled by excess regulation. Some tradesmen and women spend up to half a day a week just on paperwork
- The need to re-establish the Australian Building Construction Commissioner to reduce union militancy on work sites costing local businesses.
“Jeldwen spends over $3 million a year on power costs and we’re looking at a $330,000 impost to that as a result of the Carbon Tax over the last 18 months, ” Mr Tate said.
“We need to compete on a level playing field which we haven’t currently got,” he said.
Mr Abbott said that by scrapping the Carbon Tax and reducing red tape cost by $1 billion the Coalition would help protect local jobs and assist struggling manufacturers.
“I want to work hard to ensure good local manufacturers like this one continue,” Mr Abbott said.
“The Government is making it harder and harder for businesses to invest in Australia as a result of the Carbon Tax and constant increases in red tape.”
“The Coalitions plan for Australian manufacturing starts with the immediate abolition of the Carbon Tax and continues with a program of red tape reduction.”
“We have great workers, we have great business, we have tremendous innovators in this country, we can take on the best in the world but we’ve got to give our businesses a level playing field,” he said.
Mr Tudge said he invited Mr Abbott to the Jeldwen site to highlight issues facing manufacturers in Knox.
“Knox is one of the great manufacturing regions in Australia,” Mr Tudge said, “But many are doing it particular tough and the Labor government is just making it harder with its higher taxes and more red tape.”
“We can remain a great manufacturing region, but Government has to support local business like Jeldwen, not hinder them.”
“Our plan to abolish the Carbon Tax, deal with militant unions and cut red tape will really help local manufacturers,” he said.
